IT'S BEEN AN AMAZING ROLLER COASTER SO FAR

Andy Sullivan has smiled his way to considerable career success so far. He tells us about his journey and why more wins are hopefully on the way very soon...

- MICHAEL WESTON

Andy Sullivan is stewing over a missed shot – not a sloppy wedge or errant drive, but a little cut back on the black into the middle pocket. He’s talking about his debut appearance in the Ultimate Pool Pairs Cup. If you happened to flick on to channel 422 recently, you’ll have seen an animated Sullivan, a four-time European Tour winner, jumping up and down in distress with a cue in his hand. It was every bit as entertaining as seeing him go about his business on the golf course.

Despite his love for a frame or two, it’s his clubs that pay the bills. His ten years on tour have been fruitful, 2015 particularly so, when he won three times and finished eighth on the Order of Merit. He’s proud of what he’s achieved, as he should be, but the success that came quickly and earned him a Ryder Cup spot in 2016 also raised expectations, and at times during his career, this has proved a hindrance.

“It’s been an amazing roller coaster so far,” says Sullivan, with that infectious grin of his. “When I was 13, 14, did I think I was going to make it? Probably not, so to have the opportunity and to be doing this for as long as I have done, and to achieve the things I have, it’s amazing.”

It’s hard to imagine the jaunty 35-year-old suffering from any kind of self-doubt. In his early teens, however, he wasn’t overly confident of making it as a pro. Even as an amateur, when he was winning big tournaments and shooting 60 at Blackwell, he wasn’t convinced. He was, he says, just a “big fish in a small pond”.