ABU DHABI // Judging by the throng of people supporting Andy Sullivan throughout the DP World Tour Championship last November, he does not particularly want for fans.
The affable Englishman, 28, was one of the main attractions at the 2015 finale in Dubai, leading for much of the event before finally succumbing, by one shot, to world No 3 Rory McIlroy.
However, that did not deter ‘Sully’s Army’, the vociferous bunch of disciples who cheered on his every move. It turns out that group has long included Darren Clarke, whose relationship with Sullivan has developed across the past year or so, something that only strengthened these past few weeks.
The 2016 European Ryder Cup captain has seen plenty of his young peer up close, first as skipper at last week's EurAsia Cup, when Sullivan emerged with a 100 per cent record, and then while playing alongside each other during the first two days at this week's Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship.
Subsequently, the two have struck up quite the friendship, so much so that on Friday Sullivan had to put up with a bit of needle just to get through his second round. In fact, the banter with Clarke was very welcome, since Sullivan eased to a 5 under-par 67 to move to 10-under for the tournament. With that, he topped the leaderboard.
“We have both got a similar sense of humour and he just enjoys taking the mick out of the short, fat guy,” said the diminutive Sullivan.
Yet, despite being a little small in stature, Sullivan can still dish it out with the best of them. Clarke, 47, quickly found that out.
“He’s got ‘60’ on his ball and on the first tee I said ‘I didn’t realise you put your age on there’,” Sullivan joked. “We just try to have a bit of to-ing and fro-ing out there.”
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Seeing as Clarke is the man with the European plan at September’s Ryder Cup, Sullivan better be mindful of how much ribbing he gives. Clarke, a pretty gregarious character himself, will be choosing the wild cards for Hazeltine, remember?
“I went a bit below the belt on one,” Sullivan conceded. “He said ‘don’t be expecting a pick now’.”
The way he is playing, Sullivan will not need it. At present, he is fourth on the European points list, and victory in Abu Dhabi would almost guarantee his seat on the plane to America.
Even with fog delaying play on Friday by almost three hours, Sullivan got off to a fast start at the National Course, birdieing the opening three holes. He concluded with three straight birdies, too, leaving Clarke with a perfect reminder of his ability.
“Darren knows what I’m capable of and I don’t think it was any surprise to him for me to go out there and do what I did today,” Sullivan said. “I don’t think it’s particularly imperative, but it always bodes well when you do it like that.”
Clarke certainly was impressed, although to be fair, that admiration stretches back quite some time. Sullivan was one of the stories of 2015, clinching his first professional victory in January and going on to win twice more. He finished the year eighth on the Race to Dubai.
Clarke has even likened Sullivan to Ian Woosnam, the 1991 Masters champion and former world No 1.
“He’s just a quality ball-striker,” the Northern Irishman said. “There’s lots of brilliant young kids out here, but there’s not many who move the ball both ways, and trajectory. So he does it all; that’s how he sees the game.
“I really enjoy it, because he’s a proper shot-maker. And combine that with the fact he’s a really, really good kid and that’s even better. He’s the total package.”
That extends, then, to his competitive edge. Sullivan may be one of the most genial guys on tour, but as he proved at the DP World Tour Championship against McIlroy, he is up for the challenge as well.
“Of course he is,” Clarke said. “He’s a professional golfer. He wants to play well, he wants to succeed. And we know he’s definitely moving down the right path at the moment.”
jmcauley@thenational.ae
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