Andy Sullivan and his fans have plenty to smile about as DP World Tour halfway leader

DUBAI // Sullivan’s Army are here to stay. The 30 supporters who have travelled with Andy Sullivan to a handful of tournaments this season could be set for their best weekend yet.

His second-round total of 66 took him to 12-under-par for the tournament, a shot ahead of Emiliano Grillo at top of the leaderboard at the halfway point of the DP World Tour Championship.

Much to the delight of a fan club that are proving difficult to miss at Jumeirah Golf Estates this week. A bright yellow, smiley face logo adorns each of their white polo shirts.

It is a fitting choice of motif. The cheery emoji looks like a sullen teenager when set against the beaming visage Sullivan wears ubiquitously, though.

If there is a sportsman anywhere who has a more ready grin than the man from the English Midlands, it must be sprayed on.

And why not? After all, hitting a little white ball around a field for a living beats stacking shelves on the graveyard shift at the local supermarket, as Sullivan did when he was trying to make it in golf.

“Before I turned professional I worked in Asda, and having a little girl [Ruby] put a massive perspective on life,” Sullivan said.

“This is my dream. I’ve always wanted to do it. If I can’t enjoy that, what can I enjoy? I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

“So if I can’t enjoy it, I’d best go and do something else. Go back to stacking shelves at Asda, I think.”

Pairings and tee times (UAE) for DP World Tour Championship — Round 3

Sullivan used to do the 5am shift, after his mother told him to get a job aged 20. Now his mum, dad, aunts, uncles, and close friends are part of the tour party who follow him to some of the world’s leading golf destinations.

They bring him some luck, too. He says he is going to have to cover all their travel expenses more often in future, given how he plays when they are in the gallery.

“They have followed me about six or seven times this year and every time they’ve been there I’ve done pretty well,” he said.

“I felt a bit of static coming through holes 8, 9, 10 and 11, then holed a massive one. The crowd go wild and you feel like you’re pushing on from there.”

As Rory McIlroy had done 24 hours earlier, Sullivan signed off with a party piece at 18. His swinging, left-to-right putt from off the back of the green was met with a cheer that was even more voluble than the one that has become the custom following him.

It took him into the lead on his own, ahead of Grillo, who was the day’s outstanding performer, with a 64 while playing alongside McIlroy.

McIlroy closed on 8-under, meaning he is within striking distance of Sullivan at the top. Of equal importance was the fact it kept his rivals for the Race to Dubai title at arm’s length.

“I’m just going to have to try to go about my business and keep control of my emotions and thoughts and if I can do that, I feel that’s the best way to approach it,” McIlroy said of closing out the Order of Merit title.

Of his potential challengers, Justin Rose is closest, one shot back on 7-under, while Danny Willett is a shot further adrift.

Rose shot 66, and reckons it is possible to match his course record 62 in the coming two days.

“Whoever wins the tournament is going to have to play great golf over the weekend but at least I’m in a position where great golf will get rewarded,” Rose said.

pradley@thenational.ae

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