It’s maybe an instance of how time is fleeting when you think about that Tommy Fleetwood is now in his 15th yr as a golf professional. For a lot of golf followers, it’s going to really feel just like the younger child got here onto the scene simply yesterday along with his flowing locks and good humor. Fleetwood has not all the time set the world alight along with his golf, however he’s a grinder and able to magical moments. He’s additionally extremely constant, which is among the major causes he’s continuously in and around the world’s top ten within the OWGR rankings.
Fleetwood heads to Augusta on the weekend, not among the many favorites within the Masters betting markets. That’s comprehensible for a participant who has not but gained on the PGA Tour however has loads of good performances to level to over time. Certainly, he’ll look again fondly at his efficiency on the 2024 Masters, the place he completed 3rd. It is going to be troublesome for Fleetwood to enhance on that, particularly in mild of the type of event favorites like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, but it’s definitely not inconceivable.
Fleetwood has performed effectively within the Majors
Arguably, Fleetwood’s performances in Majors have gone below the radar over current years. The Southport-born 34-year-old has completed within the high 10 5 occasions within the final 11 Majors, together with 4 high 5 finishes. It’s a superb file, and one most golf professionals would like to have. He’s additionally introduced exceptional consistency on the excursions, having solely missed the minimize in a single event within the final 12 months.
The query, maybe, is what sort of participant is Fleetwood? He not often struggles throughout his 4 rounds in his tournaments, but chopping persistently seems to be one of the simplest ways to maintain him within the high 15 or 20 with excessive frequency. Thus, some wonder if that’s his restrict, having a tidy, constant sport that doesn’t have the x-factor required to problem on the highest stage. Or is he simply ready for the precise alternative?
An opportunity might current itself at Augusta.
We’re most likely within the latter camp. Sports activities media protection tends to focus extra on clutch moments than golfers themselves. The ideas of type and alternative matter most to them going right into a event of any description. We are saying this as a result of it has been espoused by Rory McIlroy, who (after dropping the US Open to Bryson DeChambeau final yr) talked about how he gets perspective from fascinated with type and alternative. Briefly, in case you are taking part in effectively, alternatives will come; chances are you’ll take them or not.
The purpose, as such, is that McIlroy will not be fascinated with titanic battles happening the again 9. He’s simply fascinated with his sport. Different golfers, Fleetwood included, are the identical. We don’t consider that Fleetwood has the identical expertise stage as McIlroy, however when he performs effectively sufficient, his type offers him the form of alternatives he mentioned. We noticed that on the Masters final yr and at The Open in 2019 and 2022. A little bit of luck right here and there, and Fleetwood may have been a Main winner.
After all, all of that is hypothetical. Maybe Fleetwood fails to shine at Augusta over the weekend, however maybe not. He’s an unflappable character, and it will likely be attention-grabbing to see what he’ll do ought to the chance current itself within the yr’s first Main.
