It’s a Links love affair
Fleetwood admits a real affection for challenge posed by the Dunhill courses
ON the face of it, you six hours. would Golf be tempted to question the sanity of any professional who tells you their favourite event outside the majors is the one where rounds take
Delve deeper into Tommy Fleetwood’s record in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, however, and his deep love of the pro-am event starts to make some sense.
Take the fact he’s had two runner-up finishes and two other top fives in seven appearances.
Or that he blazed round the Old Course at St Andrews in a then-course-record-equalling 62 in 2014 and Carnoustie in 63 strokes two years ago for a record low score that does still stand.
In case there’s any lingering doubt regarding his devotion, in 2017 he cut short his paternity leave following the birth of son Frankie to precisely one week so he could play. ‘Those two years have certainly flown by, haven’t they?’ said 28-year-old Fleetwood.
‘This time, Frankie will be celebrating his birthday with us during the week, that’ll be cool.
‘I think everyone knows about my love of links golf and it doesn’t come much better than the three courses at the Dunhill. I think I’ve had two putts on the 18th at St Andrews on the Sunday to get into play-offs, so I’ve had my share of near misses. It’s an event I’d love to win, for sure.’
He’s certainly overdue a victory towards the end of a season where his enviable consistency is countered by the fact he hasn’t lifted a trophy for 18 months.
His caddy and close friend Ian Finnis said: ‘Tommy’s played good or very good golf every week — but we’re still waiting for the week when he plays great.’
It almost came at The Open at Royal Portrush in July, when the boy who grew up beside one of the great courses on the rota in Royal Birkdale lost out in a final round duel to Shane Lowry.
‘If you’re asking me to sum up the year so far, I’d say it has been all right,’ said Fleetwood, the only player in the world’s top 50 not to miss a halfway cut so far this season.
‘The level of consistency is something for me to be proud about. It tells you that, even when you’re not at the top of your game, your prep and mental approach have been good, so there are always things you can learn.
‘I had two years where I shot up the world rankings and now this year I’ve consolidated my position as a top-20 player. It was important to rise and then not fall again, so to rise and stay level is okay.
‘I’ve still got a shot at the Race to Dubai and, in my first two seasons on the PGA Tour, I finished in the top 30 players who made the Tour Championship each time.
‘Even so, there’s still this nagging voice saying there have been no wins, so you have to make sure you don’t get too frustrated.
‘You have to block that out and focus on things like acceptance and temperament. If I keep swinging it like I am, the wins will come.’
Fleetwood is part of a starry cast which includes Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jon Rahm, Lowry and last week’s PGA winner, Danny Willett.
Rose is playing alongside Justin Timberlake, so should be all right for entertainment during the long waits on tees. As for McIlroy, when he asked dad Gerry what he would like for his 60th birthday, the two-handicapper didn’t hesitate.
World No 2 McIlroy has not only fulfilled the request but is so taken by his father’s enthusiasm that he says he would rather win the pro-am section than the main prize.
‘With the history that I’ve had at this tournament, from getting my Tour card in 2007 to having a few chances to win and not quite getting the job done, it would be really nice to win at St Andrews at some point,’ said the 30-year-old Northern Irishman.
‘But I’m taking the team part of it almost as seriously as the individual part.
‘The fact that me and my dad can go out and play on the oldest golf course in the world together in a big event, that’s so special.
‘This is probably a last hurrah for him in this event, so it would be really quite amazing to win in this arena.
‘My dad went through a period of playing a lot of golf, then when I started to play competitively at amateur level he hardly played at all. When I turned 18 and he didn’t have to look after me any more, he started to play again.
‘Whenever he gets to play here it’s his favourite week of the year and he loves it and enjoys it and embraces it.
‘He’s probably enjoying the game more than ever now, and it’s great to see. He knows a lot of the celebrities here and, obviously, a lot of the other pros. He’s in heaven.’
I’ve had my share of near misses. It’s an event I’d love to win, for sure