BRIDGING THE GAP
Tommy ready to tap into Portrush tussle to copy Lowry’s Major glory
Tommy Fleetwood hopes the pain of Portrush will help him create a spectacular St Andrews Sunday.
The popular Englishman was roared around the Old Course as he sparkled in the Saturday sunshine to give himself an outside shot at the title.
Fleetwood has shots to recover on the pacesetters after a brilliant 66 saw him to soar up the leaderboard to nine under.
And the 31-year- old is thrilled at the prospect of turning up the heat on the later starters today by getting off to a flying start.
Fleetwood has been in their shoes in the past.
Out in the final group alongside Shane Lowry at Royal Portrush three years ago, the Claret Jug was within reach only for the Irishman to rip it away from him in a final-day romp.
The European Ryder Cup star can’t wait to have a crack and said: “It will be nice teeing off feeling like we have a chance and see if we can get some momentum going on the front nine.
“It would be very cool and very special to be able to have a go again down the stretch on a Sunday at The Open.
“I can use my experience of playing on that Sunday. I didn’t win or anything but I felt like I did a pretty good job, Shane aside.
“Shane was exceptional on that particular day but the more you’re up there on a Sunday and compete, the more you have a chance of eventually getting over the line.
“It’s nice to be playing well again. I feel like I’ve been gradually improving, gradually building a bit of momentum, and results have been slowly coming. My game has been holding up much better throughout four rounds than it was during last year where I was nowhere to be seen in a way.
“So it’s nice to be having a go again and seeing what we can do.” Only two players have now shot
more rounds of 66 or less in Majors over the last f ive years than Fleetwood and he said: “I enjoy Majors. I enjoy preparing for them.
“In general, the tougher tests tend to fit my game. I don’t know why but it brings out the best in me. It’s nice, a stat like that. I’ve shot a lot of good rounds in Majors and you draw on those kinds of things to give you confidence.
“I’ve always liked testing myself against the best players on the toughest courses.
“Yes I haven’t won a Major yet and to be honest I haven’t won any kind of tournament for a while.
“My game hasn’t really been in a position to do so.
“But it’s coming back and, the more stats like that, it’s a nice feeling, isn’t it?
“Just getting something going in an Open on a Saturday is really cool when you do that and you have the support.
“I’d have taken it at the start of the day, that’s for sure, and I’ll be doing my best anyway. It will be nice to have a chance.”