Tommy Fleetwood will have a rare advantage when The Open Championship arrives at Royal Birkdale Golf Club: the support of the town where he grew up. The Englishman is chasing his first major title on a course he once slipped onto as a boy with friends.
Winning at Southport would add a deeply personal dimension to one of golf’s biggest prizes. Fleetwood said simply competing in an Open at Birkdale feels special because of the course’s place in the local community.
A Home Crowd With Major Stakes
Fleetwood expects thousands of supporters to follow him during the championship, with his connection to the area visible beyond the course. A mural of the golfer stands at Southport & Birkdale Sports Club, while another painting can be found at a shopping center in nearby Liverpool.
Although he and his family mostly live in Dubai, Fleetwood has kept close ties to the region. He remains a member at Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa, where he played as a junior, as well as Hillside Golf Club.
“I just think I am the lucky one that gets to have home support and use that as like really, really positive fuel,” Fleetwood said. He described the emotional investment from local supporters as something that does not go unnoticed.
Major Record at a Glance
| Event | Year | Result |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Open | 2018 | Runner-up |
| The Open Championship | 2019 | Runner-up |
This will be Fleetwood’s 45th start in a major championship, and he arrives as the reigning FedEx Cup champion. He has won 11 times around the world, ranks ninth in the Official World Golf Ranking, and earned his first PGA Tour victory at last year’s Tour Championship, according to ESPN.
His previous Open appearance at Royal Birkdale came in 2017, when an opening 76 left him facing an early exit. Fleetwood rallied in the second round to make the cut and ultimately tied for 27th at 1 over, 13 shots behind winner Jordan Spieth.
Fleetwood recalled that his Friday recovery was among the best rounds he has played to make a cut. He also remembered the experience of teeing off early with Justin Rose on Saturday.
An English Wait for the Claret Jug
An English-born player has not won The Open since Nick Faldo captured his third Claret Jug in 1992. That history adds another layer to the anticipation around Fleetwood’s return to a course in his hometown.
Fleetwood said major championships represent the sport’s ultimate accolades, but he does not want to define his fulfillment solely by winning one. “We spend our lives giving it everything, and it might happen for me, it might not,” he said.
Every player in the field will be pursuing the same championship, but Fleetwood’s opportunity carries a distinct local meaning. At Royal Birkdale, the golfer who grew up in Southport will try to turn familiar ground into the biggest victory of his career.