Portugal Masters: Andy Sullivan On Track For A Title Defense

Andy Sullivan enters the weekend with a strong chance for a title defense in Portugal

If forced to pigeonhole professional golfers into a handful of separate categories, the top of the leaderboard after 36 holes at the Portugal Masters appears to have three players reprising three separate roles.

Co-leader Marc Warren (63-65) is a fine player at No. 178 in the world and has three wins in a 14-year career, but he fits the mold of the proverbial “journeyman” in golf. Always maintaining his tour card, but rarely among the favorites to win on a given week. Aside from bogeys on the toughest hole at Victoria Clube de Golfe (a 510-yard brute of a par-4), Warren has no other blemishes. He rode a hot putter to enter #59Watch for a short time on Thursday after six straight birdies to open the tournament. The 35-year-old leads the field in putts per green in regulation (1.479).

Joining him in Saturday’s threesome is a player nudging his way into the realm of what you’d call a “household name,” at least in Europe. Andy Sullivan defends this week in Vilamoura and has two other European Tour wins that have lifted him to a frequent home in the world’s top 50 and his first Ryder Cup appearance.

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Sullivan’s ball striking has been peerless in rounds of 67 and 61 to tie for the lead at 14-under. The Englishman leads the field outright in driving accuracy (85.7 %) and GIR (91.7%). With those numbers, he’d gladly settle for his minor dip in driving distance (313.8) at fourth.

Sullivan set the tournament scoring record last year at 23-under-par. After also earning #59Watch status on Friday, he’s on pace to shatter that young record.

"“I knew I needed to go low today to get a beat on the leaders,” Sullivan was quoted in a European Tour press release. “So to go out there and shoot that score is absolutely fantastic. I had thoughts of 59 coming down the stretch there, but it wasn’t to be. It’s fantastic being on top of the leaderboard and giving myself a chance going into the weekend.”"

Last of the trio is the ultimate unknown, Sweden’s Jens Fahrbring. The golf fan who only gets up for the majors may not be familiar with Warren, either, but even the sharpest of links watchers are rushing to Google his name. If you did, there’s a solid chance you spelled it wrong like I did.

What that search will detail is that he’s played on the European Tour for the first time this year, but it has not been pretty. Since Jan. 1, the 32-year-old rookie has gone eight for 28 in cuts made, none of which have earned him more than 24,500 Euros.

The final group in no way represents the lone remaining contenders. It’s quite the opposite. Twenty-six players stand within five strokes of the 14-under lead on a course surrendering birdies easily enough that all 77 who made the cut at four-under could vault back into contention with a low round early on Saturday.

This week is also the last chance for European Tour members to earn their card for 2017 via the 2016 regular season money list. All but two of those on or within 10 spots of the coveted final No. 110 spot are in the field in Portugal.

While you’re waiting for round three to begin, check out the Bottle Smash Challenge, another quirky, yet innovative idea from the European Tour held before this week’s tournament began.

Next: Hall of Fame: Love, Mallon, Ochoa, Woosnam and Longhurst Named 2017 Inductees

Will the leaderboard remain tight or will Sullivan run away for his second straight title in Portugal? Weigh in with us in the comments and stay with PGN for more European Tour updates.