Shane Lowry and England’s Andy Sullivan each expressed surprise in being grouped together for the opening round of the EurAsia Cup in Kuala Lumpur.

Lowry and Sullivan are no strangers to each other’s game and when spotting practicing together earlier on the week on the host Glenmarie Golf and Country Club course it was easy to put two-and-two together.

However both Lowry and Sullivan, a three-time winner on last year’s European Tour, revealed they were not expecting to be opening round four-ball partners.

Andy Sullivan expresses surprise he’s paired with Shane Lowry. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)

Ireland’s Shane Lowry thought he would be paired with Chris Wood and not Andy Sullivan. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)

“To be honest, I wasn’t expecting to be paired with Andy and I was really expecting to be partnering Danny Willett or Chris Wood, and it was Chris who I first singled out as a partner when I knew late last year I was in the side,” said Lowry.

“But then Andy’s a great lad and one of the nicest guys on Tour and I guess it doesn’t matter who you partner as they are a great bunch of lads.

“Andy is a very solid player.  He’s a great putter and the two of us should gel well together.

“But then looking at the overall pairings, Darren has surprised a good few of us but then he’s got these guys from the Tour providing him with all sorts of stats.

“So I would not say I was shocked only that I felt this pairing or that pairing was a bit of a funny one and not one I would have expected.”

Sullivan, who like Lowry is making his pro career team debut, was a little more surprised than Lowry.

“It was just sprung us we would be playing together but then Darren has clearly gone into a lot of detail in working out the pairings,” said Sullivan.

As has been touched on by Lowry and Sullivan, Clarke revealed he based his six pairings on the backroom homework of European Tour staffers.

“I was informed by those looking at all the stats that Shane and Andy would be ideal and besides they do get on very well, and they also like each other,” said Clarke.

“I did ask each of my team who their preferred partners would be and of the three names they gave me Shane had picked Andy and vice versa.

“They’re both great young players so they should enjoy themselves.”

However for the ‘elder statesman’ on Clarke’s team, namely Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood who themselves are staring at future EurAsia and Ryder Cup leadership, Clarke’s running of the European Team has been nothing but impressive.

“Darren’s attention to detail has been unrelenting and it’s clear to me he’s working with a plan going forward and by that I mean he has September in mind,” said Poulter.

“He’s got a young team this week and he knows he needs to make sure that guys playing this week could also be representing Europe in the Ryder Cup.

“So he needs to get as much out of this week as possible with Hazeltine in mind.

“His attention to detail is brilliant and he just wants to get everything right”.

Westwood wound up his preparations leading a Pro-Am team that included the Queen of Malaysia, Tuanka Hajah Haminah and a very capable golfer as evident as easily finding the fairway from the championship tee in playing the ceremonial opening drive.

And Clarke’s closest friend in golf was just as complimentary of his leadership.

“Darren is very calculated and he’s got all bases covered, and knowing Darren so well I expected that,” said Westwood.