Tommy Fleetwood ready for biggest round of his life
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D-Day hour is fast approaching for England’s Tommy Fleetwood.
The Southport-based star is one rock solid round away from claiming his first major – the US Open – at Erin Hills tonight.
Fleetwood heads into the final round on -11 just one shot off leader Brian Harman but will quietly be fancying his chances of emulating Justin Rose’s success in the same major in 2013.
And why not? Fleetwood has been in fine and consistent form with every club in the bag all week – he has bogeyed just three holes and the third of those came at the 18th last night when a miraculous chip saw him concede just the one shot when a double looked on the cards.
Fleetwood is a gutsy as well as a talented player and he will know full well this is his big moment, the most important round of his life and career; he will know deep down he will probably not have a better chance of securing a major.
He’s already proved this season he’s a winner – he won in Abu Dhabi – and if he can maintain his form and, equally importantly, his belief there is absolutely no doubt he can pull it off. “Three days down and so far so good,” he reflected.
He admits he’s dreamt of “winning the US Open a lot of times before” and added: “If I wake up with the same feelings on Sunday I’m going to have a chance.
“From the minute I teed off I felt comfortable in my swing, and the further I got into the round the better I felt.
“It’s the US Open anything can happen. It’s going to be new again now. It’s just you and the golf course but today will be new again.”
In truth, 26-years-old Fleetwood is one of a cluster of players who can claim the coveted crown, but sadly and realistically the sole Brit capable of finishing on top of the pile.
Paul Casey, eight shots adrift after a shocker yesterday, is surely too far back as is the game Eddie Pepperell, also on -4.
After his record-breaking efforts yesterday, Justin Thomas will be fancying his chances and so will fellow countrymen Rickie Fowler, Brooks Koepka while overnight leader Harman will be hoping to continue to go under the radar. Watch out too for Patrick Reed, a man on a mission at -8.
I’s the final day of the US Open and nobody will be taking anything for granted specially considering the wind is expected to blow and make life doubly difficult.
But that won’t bother Tommy Fleetwood who was brought up playing the windswept north west links of England’s Golf Coast.
In fact it could well play into his hands…
