A Chip off the old block

He lists James Bond movies and chess among his hobbies but teeing it up and smashing the ball down the fairway remains Chip Sullivan’s passion.

The Hanging Rock Golf Club director of golf from Virginia is one of the oldest players on either side but he is also arguably one of the most enthusiastic and passionate about the PGA Cup.

It’s for that reason that Tom Watson’s signature adorns the 48-year-old’s PGA Cup bag and why he is itching to help US captain Allen Wronowski retain the magnificent Llandudno Trophy at De Vere Slaley Hall beginning on Friday.

While Sullivan can point to a playing CV crammed full of achievement including 17 holes in one, playing on the PGA Tour, competing in six PGA Championships and scalping John Daly as a young amateur – none come close to representing the US in the PGA Cup, an experience he first savoured as part of the winning team at Reynolds Plantation in 2007 when Gary Alliss’ GB&I team narrowly lost on a nailbiting final day.

And it’s why he replied it was a ‘no-brainer’ when he was asked whether he would prefer to play in the US PGA Championship or the PGA Cup.

“Having the opportunity to play in a team-event representing your country is something you really can’t put words to,” says Sullivan who refuses to let diabetes and a life-threatening blood condition dilute his enthusiasm for golf.

“You feel it in your chest when you are out there playing PGA Cup, and it’s a different kind of nervousness than when you are just playing your own ball. You can handle making a mistake when it is just affecting you but when you are potentially letting down your team-mates and country, it is something else but it is an experience that is just awesome and I’m just so fortunate to be involved a second time.”

Given that the PGA Cup is often called the club pro’s Ryder Cup it is perhaps fitting that Sullivan's bag should bear the scrawl of next year’s US captain at Gleneagles.

Sullivan holds Watson in high esteem although his competitive edge didn’t prevent him relieving his idol of $20 dollar with a birdie at Greenbrier’s par three 18^th.

“I have been fortunate enough to play in Tom’s pro-am at the Greenbrier in the past few years and knowing he was going to captain the Ryder Cup I asked him if he wouldn’t mind signing our ‘Ryder Cup’ bag and he was thrilled to do it.

“He is such a gentleman. He plays the par three 18th with each group and we had a bet with him and I birdied the hole and won $20. He signed the bill and I gave it to my pro-am partner and he’s going to frame it.

“That’s Tom, he’s going to be a great Ryder Cup captain and doesn’t put himself above anyone which I really like.”

There are no airs or graces about Sullivan either – just pride at being part of a US PGA Cup team and having the honour of defending the Llandudno Trophy against Russell Weir’s Great Britain & Irish team.

“I feel we are up against a very difficult GB&I team, from what I hear I know we are going to have a tough time keeping the cup so we all have to be on our game.

“I know they know the course better than us so we are really trying to jam it in in a few days to get the feel of the greens which are the tricky parts.”

Back in Virginia, Sullivan’s role at Hanging Rock sees him part general manager, part director of golf and chief ball washer. "You name it, I do it,” he says.

Scratch beneath the surface though and he remains very much a player – one with targets too.

“I have a serious passion for the game of golf and whether it is playing on the PGA Tour or in a pro-am, I love to compete, I still get the jitters and the butterflies and it doesn’t matter I just enjoy being around it, no matter what capacity I’m at.

“Director of golf is a wonderful job, the two club owners sponsored me on the tour and they understood what they were getting when they hired me and they like to see me out there and do well as its put recognition on our club.

“I’ve done what I’ve done in winning the national championship and making the tour. It’s been a fun ride and you know golf is a game where you are going to lose more than you are going to win so you have to take it in your stride and enjoy the moments things go the right way for you.”

On Sunday, Sullivan will be hoping it’s a night to savour but win or lose, the PGA Cup at Slaley Hall is set to live long in the memory of this PGA Professional.