Record holder hoping to find some Pep magic

Tommy Fleetwood is hoping some of Pep Guardiola’s magic rubs off on him as he chases his first major championship this summer.

The Manchester City boss stayed true to his word when he said he would play golf on the day a Manchester United loss confirmed his side as Premier League champions.

But instead of a quiet round, he invited fourtime European Tour winner Fleetwood along at Sandiway Golf Club.

“It is the first time I have ever been on Match of the Day,” said the Southport golfer, who had a near miss at last month’s US Open. He added: “It was brilliant. We clicked a little bit and it was the first time we played golf together.

“I saw him that night and celebrated winning the league with him a little bit but it was really cool — not something you ever normally get to do.”

It was a rare Sunday off for Fleetwood, who has emerged as one of the best players in the world over the last 12 months.

The world number 10 agonisingly missed from eight feet for birdie on the 72nd hole of the US Open to equal the all-time major record of 62 set by Branden Grace at Royal Birkdale.

Fleetwood’s 63 at Shinnecock Hills still matched the lowest score in US Open history and set a testing clubhouse target on two over par, with defending champion Brooks Koepka the only player able to beat it — by a single shot — thanks to a nerveless 68.

The Englishman’s position among the tournament favourites is also a result of him holding the course record of 63 at Carnoustie, although that was set during the Dunhill Links Championship, a pro-am event played annually in October.

Fleetwood added: “It is a completely different course — I’ve never played it this firm or fast. Shots you’ve hit have literally no relevance for a lot of it.

“The greens are still pretty receptive. It doesn’t do any harm to have played it for a few years and have a course record, but it’s a completely different challenge to what we normally face.”