Tommy has his heart in Southport
IT’S fair to say that Southport golfer Tommy Fleetwood is enjoying life right now. The 27 year old Evertonian managed to overcome indifferent form to win the HNA Open de France in July before clinching the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship last month.
And havingly recently got married and become a father, the likeable four times Euro Tour winner is on an upward curve.
Here, Tommy’s first ever coach Norman Marshall gives his views on his former charge.
I believe you met Tommy Fleetwood at the age of 6. Was it always obvious from a young age that he would be a star?
When I first saw Tommy’s game, he was the best junior golfer I’d ever seen.
That said, I was quite a young golf coach back then.
Looking back now, with the benefit of years of experience – it only becomes more apparent what a golfing genius he truly was! A truly worldclass talent, even then.
What’s more, it’s not just talent at that age that makes a difference, it’s carrying it on.
I’ve probably seen five or six equally talented golfers at that age since, but so far, none of them have persevered to the same level. What was his biggest strength as a young player?
His power relative to his bodyweight was extraordinary, but the part of his game that impressed me the most (and still does) is his desire to put the practise in when he got the chance.
Hours upon hours out on the course, it’s the only way.
He loved golf, but what you really need as a keen young golfer, when you can’t just walk to the course – is a supportive parent, someone to drive you around.
With Tommy, it was the commitment of his dad that really impressed me, his willingness to help and give his son every opportunity to follow his passion. Is Tommy still a Southport boy at heart?
He is very much still a Southport lad, yes. We see him in Southport a lot.
In fact, for a world-class golfer, he probably plays more golf than anyone with everyday golfers – his dad and his mates. He’s got a Southport heart too.
In fact, very recently – back in December – we held a local junior golf tournament where unfortunately one of the boy’s parents, came from Southport, his dad had died suddenly of sepsis.
The organiser wanted to put on a fundraiser at Formby Hall – where I’m the head golf pro, and asked me, “Is there any chance you can get Tommy involved?”
Now, bear in mind, when he asked me – Tommy was right in the middle of the Race to Dubai, trying to become the best golfer in Europe, so it wasn’t an ideal time.
However, I managed to get a message through to Tommy’s dad asking him about the fundraiser. To my surprise, his immediate response was “yes, we’d love to come.”
Now, bear in mind, like most top professional golfers, Tommy’s schedule is mapped out with his management almost a year in advance, so he had to move quite a few things around last minute to make the time to come, which is practically unheard of. It was extremely touching.
December 27th dawned, and sure enough, Tommy turned up at Formby Hall and basically spent the whole day there, presented the trophies and must have signed 150 autographs for all the junior players.
He’s got a real heart for Junior golf, Tommy. A lot of golfers talk a good game, but he delivers. He’s a kind, genuine man. It’s the same when you see him at The Open, he’s always there the longest, signing autographs and meeting people.
Speaking of The Open, what was it like having it in Southport last year?
It was enormously exciting. Of course, Southport has long been a famous golfing town, but what I’ve found is that despite how much grassroots golf support there is here, it has historically produced very few worldclass golfers.
And yet, all of a sudden, we’re in a golden era of Southport talent. Matthew Baldwin, a Tour player, Lee Slattery, comfortably in the European Top 100, and of course Tommy is the star.
How much do you think winning the Race to Dubai will have meant to Tommy?