Thursday 24 November 2016 10:13, UK
Andy Sullivan was encouraged by England’s start to the World Cup of Golf, where he and Chris Wood stayed within two strokes of early leaders Spain.
Sullivan missed the pre-tournament pro-am through illness and didn't play a practice round at Kingston Heath, but went on to post an opening round 71 alongside his Ryder Cup team-mate in Melbourne.
The English pair posted three birdies in a six-hole stretch around the turn, before bouncing back from a double-bogey at the 12th to pick up a stroke at the 15th and sit tied fifth after the opening round.
"I thought we played really solid today," Sullivan said after their foursomes round. "We hit a lot of fairways, a lot of greens and gave ourselves a lot of chances.
"I felt like when I was getting in to the green if I could get Chris (Wood) anywhere near he was going to make it.
"I think at the start of the day we'd have taken that, one under, so we're really happy with it."
Spain posted the only eagle of the day at the par-five eighth and added two gains along the back nine, with a 15-footer from Rafa Cabrera Bello at the last giving them the early advantage.
"It was a fun putt," Cabrera Bello said about his final-hole birdie. "When I was seeing it, it looked like it couldn't miss and then all of a sudden it really missed and I don't know how it came back and went in.
"It's been a good day, we played well. It was tough and tricky with the wind but Jon (Rahm) played great.
"I rolled some putts and hit some good shots as well. It's a score we're proud of and also a score we deserve."
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