Sullivan has his sights on the Masters

Andy Sullivan (pictured) will not only be striving for a hat-trick of 2015 European Tour titles this week in Morocco, but hoping to secure a US Masters spot for the first time in his career. 

A second-place finish on his own in the Trophee Hassan II tournament will be enough for the 28-years-old to secure a place at Augusta National where the year’s first Major starts on April 9.

Sullivan started the year 150th in the Official World Golf Ranking, but after winning The South African Open Championship and Joburg Open, now lies 61st and within touching distance of a first major appearance since turning professional in 2011.

He travels to Morocco in high spirits, after an impressive round of 63 at the event last year helped him finish second, and he is looking for a repeat dosage.

Buoyant Sullivan is looking to go one better than last year when he finished runner-up, saying: “It is always nice to return to a place where you have played well in the past. There are a lot of incentives for me as well.

“If someone said at the start of the year that I would have a chance to get into the Masters this week I would have said no chance,” he added.

“It is a massive carrot dangling in front of me but I just have to put it to one side and concentrate on playing my game.

“If I don’t get in it won’t be the end of the world, and I will have had a great start to the year regardless.

“I’ve never played a major before so it is something I’ve always wanted to do and it will be in the back of my mind.”

Also scrapping for a Masters spot are South Africa’s George Coetzee and France’s Alex Levy.