Forgotten Ryder Cup star grabs Luke Donald's attention as PGA Tour goal in sight

Ten years have passed since Andy Sullivan's one and only Ryder Cup appearance, but the 39-year-old is a dark horse for a spot on Luke Donald's European team in Ireland next year.

Sullivan is on the verge of earning a PGA Tour card for the first time after a strong season on the DP World Tour, highlighted by three top-five finishes. And the Englishman took a step closer to earning playing privileges in the U.S. with a stellar final round at the BMW PGA Championship on Sunday.

He fired an eight-under-par 64 at Wentworth to briefly set the clubhouse lead at 13 under, though he has since been surpassed by Joost Luiten, and the big guns are looming large. Rory McIlroy is among those in the hunt after an astonishing finish to his third round.

His performance this week in Surrey, England, could see him rise from eighth place in the Race to Dubai rankings, and with just seven events remaining this season, a 2027 PGA Tour card is his to lose.

The four-time DP World Tour member has never held full status in the U.S., and while he is a loyal member of the DP World Tour, he is relishing the chance to test himself against the best players in the world. He is eager to make this rich vein of form count.

"This is my 15th season out here, so I do love the DP World Tour. I'm not going to lie, but it feels like there is an itch there I need to scratch [on the PGA Tour]," he said.

"Consistently playing against the world's best is something hard to turn down. But again, we'll see if that challenge arises, if I can take it. It's a good problem to have, if I get it. It wasn't on the radar at the start of the year, so if it happens, it's a great bonus. But we'll see.

"I want to be getting back in the majors again, and playing with the likes of Tyrrell [Hatton] and [Justin Rose] and Rory. That's the goal. You want to test yourself against the best, and that's where I want to be."

As for the prospect of representing Europe again, he is trying to stay in the present. He qualified automatically for the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine, where Europe was well beaten by Davis Love III's Team USA.

While his face might not fit for a captain's pick, given the continuity Europe has enjoyed of late.

But if he continues his good form over the next 12 months, automatic qualification is achievable.

"If I play good golf and I come into contention for Luke's team, that's fantastic," he said. "I'm doing a lot of things right. So if something like that comes up, brilliant.

"For me at the moment, it's just about keep getting better. I'm really working hard at all aspects of my game. It's nice that the hard work is paying off."