It’s maybe an instance of how time is fleeting when you think about that Tommy Fleetwood is now in his fifteenth yr as a golf professional. For a lot of golf followers, it can really feel just like the younger child got here onto the scene simply yesterday together with his flowing locks and good humor. Fleetwood has not at all times set the world alight together with his golf, however he’s a grinder and able to magical moments. He’s additionally extremely constant, which is among the important causes he’s consistently in and all over the world’s prime 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 through the years. Certainly, he’ll look again fondly at his efficiency on the 2024 Masters, the place he completed third. It is going to be tough for Fleetwood to enhance on that, particularly in gentle of the type of event favorites like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, but it’s actually not unimaginable.
Fleetwood has performed effectively within the Majors
Arguably, Fleetwood’s performances in Majors have gone underneath the radar over current years. The Southport-born 34-year-old has completed within the prime 10 5 instances within the final 11 Majors, together with 4 prime 5 finishes. It’s a superb document, and one most golf execs would like to have. He’s additionally introduced exceptional consistency on the excursions, having solely missed the lower in a single event within the final 12 months.
The query, maybe, is what kind of participant is Fleetwood? He not often struggles throughout his 4 rounds in his tournaments, but slicing constantly seems to be the easiest way to maintain him within the prime 15 or 20 with excessive frequency. Thus, some ponder whether that’s his restrict, having a tidy, constant sport that doesn’t have the x-factor required to problem on the highest degree. Or is he simply ready for the suitable alternative?
An opportunity might current itself at Augusta.
We’re in all probability 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 shedding the US Open to Bryson DeChambeau final yr) talked about how he will get perspective from desirous about type and alternative. Briefly, if you’re taking part in effectively, alternatives will come; chances are you’ll take them or not.
The purpose, as such, is that McIlroy just isn’t desirous about titanic battles taking place the again 9. He’s simply desirous about his sport. Different golfers, Fleetwood included, are the identical. We don’t consider that Fleetwood has the identical expertise degree as McIlroy, however when he performs effectively sufficient, his type provides 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 might 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 will probably be fascinating to see what he’ll do ought to the chance current itself within the yr’s first Main.
