Tommy Fleetwood’s exceptional reference to Abu Dhabi reveals no indicators of fading, because the Englishman produced one other glowing spherical on Friday.
Fleetwood, a two-time winner of the occasion, continued his superb kind with a six-under-par 66, maintaining himself firmly in rivalry heading into the weekend. The 34-year-old bought off to a blistering begin with three consecutive birdies and by no means seemed again.
“It was a extremely good day,” Fleetwood stated afterward. “I bought off to the proper begin — birdie, birdie, birdie — and that’s at all times necessary, particularly after around the day earlier than. They are saying it’s laborious to observe a low one with one other, so beginning robust actually helped.”
Fleetwood credited his sharp brief recreation and sensible course administration for sustaining momentum, notably when confronted with tough lies within the tough. “We learn the lies rather well,” he defined. “Controlling the ball out of the tough was actually pleasing, and I putted strong once more. Six-under was an excellent rating.”
Regardless of his composed play, Fleetwood dismissed any notion that he’s on “autopilot.”
“In no way,” he stated. “This course nonetheless assessments you. Scores have been low, and if you wish to be up there on Sunday, it’s important to be relentless — maintain hitting good pictures, maintain scoring. I’m doing plenty of issues properly, however I understand how rapidly the sport can flip. I’ll simply keep centered and maintain doing the appropriate issues.”
Fleetwood, who’s ending one other lengthy season, believes his present kind is a product of studying from the sport’s finest.
“In my early years on tour, I’d attain these late-season occasions feeling drained and dissatisfied,” he stated. “I observed the highest gamers have been nonetheless competing laborious, nonetheless motivated proper to the tip. That’s what I needed to emulate.”
Now, with only a handful of rounds left within the 12 months, Fleetwood stays pushed. “I’m nonetheless actually motivated,” he added. “I need to play properly and end robust. Hopefully I can put one other good spherical collectively tomorrow, compete on Sunday, and carry that into subsequent week earlier than switching off for a well-earned break.”
Fleetwood’s willpower — and his ongoing love affair with Abu Dhabi — suggests he’ll be a significant component as soon as once more because the championship heads into the decisive weekend.
