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Tommy Fleetwood is relishing another chance to fulfill his childhood dream by chasing a big hometown win at The Open at Royal Birkdale.
Fleetwood is one of the favorites to be the first Englishman to be crowned champion golfer of the year since Sir Nick Faldo, at a course where he first watched The Open as a child and sneaked off with his father to play.
The world No. 9 failed to compete when the Open ended here in 2017 but his career has reached new heights, featuring in the last four Ryder Cup teams, finishing runner-up twice in majors and claiming a breakthrough PGA Tour victory at the Tour Championship.
A mural of Fleetwood has been erected in Southport ahead of The Open
He has finished no worse than 14th in his last five global starts and will be a fan favorite this week, with a huge mural on the walls of Southport and Birkdale Sports Clubs and Fleetwood-inspired crochet work around the local area.
“It’s an absolute dream to play here in my hometown in front of people who are here to support me – there are only positives,” Fleetwood said in his pre-tournament press conference.
Fleetwood is looking to become the first English Open winner since Sir Nick Faldo in 1992.
“What you have to deal with is how much you want it and your own expectations. At the same time, I’m no different than any other person in terms of every single person who plays in The Open who dreams of winning the Open and wants to win it.
“There’s nothing really different from anyone else in that sense. I think I’m the lucky one to have the support of the house and use that as really positive fuel.
“The first time I played here in 2017, obviously I had a bad first round. My round on Friday was one of the best rounds I’ve played to make the cut and Saturday was a great experience to go out so early.
“You can look back at Royal Liverpool (2023), when I shot a great first round and was in contention throughout the week. Those are experiences and memories that I will have forever because it was such an amazing atmosphere and amazing support.
“I’ve got all those things to draw and I’ve got all those things to aim for. I go back to just being an eight-year-old kid, the thought of playing in an Open at Birkdale was incredibly special. If you’re not going to enjoy it, you’ve let yourself down in that sense.”
‘Still a long way to go’ – can Fleetwood get big?
Fleetwood has seven major top-five finishes in his career, including a runner-up finish at The Open in 2019, though hasn’t found a top-10 since finishing third at The Masters in April 2024.
The 35-year-old is regularly tipped as a major contender but is yet to find an elusive victory, with Fleetwood insisting he will not let the big four tournaments define him if he fails to win one in his career.
“There’s no doubt about it, winning a major is the ultimate compliment to our game,” Fleetwood explained. “I don’t think I want to look to the future and think or think I have to win a major to feel fulfilled.” We spend our lives with everything and it may happen for me, it may not.
“No matter what happens in my career, I’ll be able to look back and say I gave it my all and I had an amazing time doing it. I’d definitely love to have a big or two or three on my resume when my career is over.
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Check out the best shots from The Open archives featuring Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth and more
“Whether it happens or not is sometimes out of your control, but the ultimate thing is to make sure you have a great time chasing it. Dreams come true, we see it all the time, but you’ll never find it if you don’t chase it.”
“Mine may be true, it may not be. I’ve done a lot in my career so far but there’s still a lot left to do. Until my time is up, I’ll keep trying and keep working hard.
“Hopefully you can ask me that question again and I’ll be able to tell you how I really feel.”
When is the Open live on Sky Sports?
Wall-to-wall action kicks off with the final men’s major of the year on Thursday at 6.30am on Sky Sports Golf, the exclusive home of The Open in the UK and Ireland, Sky Sports Golf.
Sky Sports+ or The Sky Sports appwith extended coverage then beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. on Sunday.
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