Sullivan excited by prospect of closing tournament alongside McIlroy

Joy Chakravarty 23:45 21/11/2015
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  • Andy Sullivan watches his approach shot at the par-5 18th.

    Andy Sullivan, the Pied Piper of Nuneaton and his merry band of ‘Team Sulli’ are facing their biggest challenge on Saturday.

    As they say, the first 54 holes of a tournament is the easy part. It become a different ballgame altogether on a Sunday, and especially on the back nine. And it becomes even more difficult when you are trying to hold off someone as hungry and intent as Rory McIlroy.

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    The 28-year-old Englishman is hoping to do all that armed with a smile on his face and a red-hot putter.

    The flat club has really proved to be his greatest ally so far, and it proved no different Saturday, when he shot a third-round four-under par 68 to remain one ahead of McIlroy.

    Sullivan edged ahead of McIlroy with a birdie on the 17th when he holed a 25-footer, and then looked in danger of dropping a shot on the 18th when left with a par attempt from 20 feet. That putt too, never appeared to be going anywhere but the middle of the cup.

    The world No53, winner of three titles on the European Tour this season, said: “It would be an absolute dream come true to win when playing with Rory in the final round.

    “I’ll try not to think about it too much to be honest. It’s great. There’s no pressure on me. I’m not expected to win, am I? No one is going to expect me to beat him. So for me it’s a nice position to be in, one in front. I’m going to go out and play golf.”

    Sullivan has no doubts about his own ability to beat McIlroy, and admits he can always lean on the group of 30-odd family and friends who have followed him enthusiastically over the past three days.

    “If I keep putting the way I am and hitting the ball well, I can still do it. I believe in myself, so just see, but it’s going to be a good day I think,” he said. “I’ve won three different ways this year, one in a play-off, once coming from behind and the other leading from the front.

    “I’ll be trying to pull on as much experience as I’ve got. He’s got a little bit more than me, but I’ll just go out there and try and do my best and play as good of golf as I can and hopefully the putter stays hot.

    “They (his supporters) are just awesome, because I think my golf was pretty flat and when I holed the putts, I really tried to use that as momentum. I know Rory will have his own fans out there, probably 90 per cent of them to be fair, but my boys make a lot of noise.”

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