Sullivan eyes back-to-back Johannesburg titles

Defending champion Andy Sullivan hopes another solid week at the South African Open Championship can inspire a repeat of his 2015 successes on the European Tour.

Sullivan claimed victory at Glendower Golf Club 12 months ago, a win that began the most successful year of his career and saw him finish eighth on the order of merit.

He needed a play-off to get his hands on the trophy, the 28-year-old Englishman seeing off Charl Schwartzel to claim the first of three tournament wins.

Sullivan feels his game has improved drastically since he was last at the tournament, and hopes his experiences in 2015 can fire him to back-to-back victories.

"Last year was unbelievable," he said. "I'm not going to stand here and say that I'm going to try and win four tournaments this year because I know how hard it was to win three.

"My goals are to improve as a player and I know if I can improve as a player and manage myself better, I'm going to give myself the best chance to achieve as much as I can in this game.

"It's been an incredible year and it all started from here so it's fantastic to get back. Hopefully I can put up a good performance and a good fight this week."

Another man who shone in 2015 was local favourite Branden Grace, and the South African is similarly keen to get his new season underway with a victory.

Grace's impressive 2015 included two top-four finishes in major championships, two European Tour wins and third place in the Race to Dubai.

There has not been a home winner since 2011 when Hennie Otto lifted the trophy, but Grace is keen to end that wait and follow in the footsteps of Ernie Els, Trevor Immelman and Retief Goosen.

"As a South African this is the one tournament you want to win. There have been some big names on the trophy and there's a lot of history behind this event," he said.

"Every South African that's playing this event or growing up playing the game of golf, will want to win this one tournament. A couple of my mates are on the trophy, so hopefully I can be up there or be a name on the trophy soon."

Also in the field are Gary Stal, Marcel Siem and Oliver Wilson thanks to their tournament wins last year, with former champions Els and Immelman playing together in their opening rounds.