Andy 'Spaceman' Sullivan enjoys his ride to the outer limits

Sullivan leading the DP World Championship in Dubai at halfway stage

(Getty Images)

From Asda to outer space is arguably one of golf’s greatest journeys, though leading the DP World Championship in Dubai at halfway is no bad trip either, judging by the perma-smile on Andy Sullivan’s face.

Sullivan, known as the spaceman, courtesy of a space flight won with a hole-in-one at a tournament in Holland last year, is building quite the following with his effortless ordinariness and knack for making little white balls disappear. Three times a winner already this year the former superstore shelf stacker from Nuneaton fired a second successive 66 to lead by a stroke from Emiliano Grillo with Rory McIlroy four back in fourth after a repeat 68.

“It’s absolutely awesome to be leading in such a massive event, it’s incredible. I’m just happy I’m doing it in front of my fans to keep them happy for the weekend anyway,” he said. The fans to which he refers are a loyal bunch identified by T-shirts with smiley faces.

“They have followed me about six or seven times this year and every time they have been there, I’ve done pretty well. I think I am going to have to start paying for them to come out every week now.”

No problem with the cash he is banking, a far cry from his humble beginnings as a school leaver grateful for a two-year stint at Asda to help fund his amateur career. “If you ask them they’ll probably say I was only there for about six months because I was asleep in the changing room half the time,” Sullivan said.

“I had to go in at five in the morning and finish at 10 so I could play golf, so a few times I turned up with a bit of a hangover, seeing as I had to work on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Working in Asda and having a little girl (Ruby, born in 2013) put a massive perspective on life.

“This is my dream and I’ve always wanted to do it. 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.”

For McIlroy it was another day of nearly golf. Only three players have posted a lower halfway total, but in this company McIlroy is not playing to fill the chorus line.

“I’m not quite performing at the highest levels I would like. I’m hitting it well, my putting’s getting better. I still missed a few chances but I scrambled well today,” he said.

McIlroy’s principal rival for the Race to Dubai crown, Danny Willett, fell two shots behind the order of merit leader with a second round 70. First round joint leader Ian Poulter hit a 74 to fall eight shots off the lead and was furious with his performance.

The 39-year-old wrote on Twitter: “I got what I deserved today. Disgusting commitment to shots. Disgusting attitude, Disgusting temperament, Lost my cool,”