Fleetwood: Open should visit course more often
Tommy Fleetwood admits that he is biased when it comes to the course he used to sneak on to as a child, but he still believes the R&A should make Royal Birkdale the English equivalent of St Andrews and stage the Open here every five years instead of 10.
The 26-year-old was brought up in Southport and since his disappointing opening 76 – during which there were long patches of respectful silence – he has heard nothing but cheers as he valiantly fought back to one-over.
But then, the atmosphere has been rousing for all the competitors and when the fans are put alongside the undoubted quality of the links and the dining and nightlife attractions of the town and surrounding villages, Fleetwood thinks it makes a perfect venue.
“I was talking about it on the way around with Justin [Rose] today and I’m not just saying it because I’m from here, but the Open should come to Birkdale more than every nine or 10 years,” Fleetwood said after his 66.
“I’ve played in four Opens and these are by far the best crowds. You get so many; I think it’s got a chance of being the biggest selling Open ever. And I think this is one of the best tracks in the world. If I had a say, I’d definitely have it more at Birkdale.”
However, despite Birkdale’s popularity – depending on how many turn up for the final round, it could indeed break the record attendance of 239,000 set at St Andrews in 2000 – the R&A is unlikely to heed Fleetwood’s call.
There is no official roster, but with Royal Portrush recently added, there are 10 courses which believe they are on the rotation and some have to wait longer than 10 years for their chance to restage the major.
For his part, Fleetwood is simply glad that he gave the fans a local to support as they arrived in huge numbers for this thrilling Saturday.
“It would have been pretty rubbish staying home for the weekend,” Fleetwood said. “It’s the first cut I’ve made an the Open and this is an experience that you don’t get every week. It’s been amazing playing in front of everybody and getting clapped on to every green and every tee.”