Andy Sullivan hopes for Ryder Cup pairing with Rory McIlroy
By Jamie Weir and Ali Stafford
Last Updated: 24/09/16 10:08am
Andy Sullivan has set his sights on playing alongside Rory McIlroy when he makes his Ryder Cup debut at Hazeltine.
The three-time European Tour player qualified for Darren Clarke's side through the world points list following three top-10s in 2016 and is one of six rookies in the team in Minnesota.
The pair impressed when going head-to-head during the final of the DP World Tour Championship in November and again at January's Dubai Desert Classic, with Sullivan hoping they can form a partnership together.
"Every time we've played together we've got on really well," Sullivan told Sky Sports. "We've played a lot of practice rounds ahead of majors this year and it just seems to work.
"I get on really well with him and his game is just absolutely fantastic. He's just starting to work with Phil Kenyon, who I've worked with for a long time, so hopefully we'll go out there and hole some putts to get the crowds going.
"Darren will have his own ideas who he'll want to play together, but I know who I'd like to play with."
Half of Clarke's side are Ryder Cup first-timers, the same number Colin Montgomerie had in his team at Celtic Manor in 2010 and the most in European colours since seven featured in the 1999 defeat at Brookline.
Although Sullivan admits it's the home side who are favourites to end their run of three consecutive defeats, he is confident Europe's newcomers can cope with the pressure of playing in a Ryder Cup.
"Rookies are not what they use to be," Sullivan added. "The rookies have all played in big tournaments and performed in high-pressure situations.
"We travel worldwide now, playing in the United States, in Asia and everywhere. I know the Ryder Cup will be a little different to that, but I'm sure we can all handle our own.
"I think every year Europe on paper always head in as underdogs, which is just one of those things, and the Americans off the world rankings look strong.
"Europe often seems to come out on top, so if that's a common theme then I'm quite happy for Europe to be underdogs going in to Hazeltine."
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