Sinking feeling for Fleetwood after letting slip two-shot Honda lead
Tommy Fleetwood’s mission to win a first PGA Tour title came up agonisingly short at the Honda Classic last night.
The Englishman enjoyed a two-shot lead in the final round at the PGA National in West Palm Beach, but in difficult conditions he could not hold on. Desperate for a birdie on the 18th, the 29-year-old pushed his approach into the water, allowing the South Korean Im Sung-jae to prevail by a shot.
How Fleetwood, the world No12, will regret that five wood on the par-five last. Having holed a 25-footer down the slope on the 17th to give himself a chance of catching Im – the inspired 21-year-old who played the last three holes in two under for a 66 and a six-under total – Fleetwood hit a perfect drive into the fairway. But the hazard gobbled him up and he had to be content with third on four under.
It sounded as if a fan yelled on Fleetwood’s backswing, although he was as gracious as ever afterwards. “You live and die by the shots you hit and I had a chance on the last,” Fleetwood said. “My swing wasn’t there all day, to be honest. I feel like I am doing it more consistently and I’ve shown it again this week. I’m not winning as much as I like, but winning is hard.
“I’m not blowing up on Sunday and feel like I’m doing a good job of staying there. Onwards and upwards.”
This was Fleetwood’s fourth top-three finish in his past six starts and he is clearly peaking before the Players Championship at Sawgrass next week.
Canada’s Mackenzie Hughes ended as Im’s nearest challenger on five under.
Fleetwood was joined on the Florida leaderboard by countryman Lee Westwood, who continued his climb up the rankings with a tie for fourth on three under, following a 70 level par.
Westwood, 46, played with another former English world No1 in Luke Donald, whose 72 left him in a tie for 11th on one under. Both of these veterans will take plenty of positives from the week.
On the European Tour, Finland’s Sami Valimaki overcame Brandon Stone in a play-off to win his first title at the Oman Open. The 21-yearold claimed four wins on the satellite Pro Golf Tour after turning professional in January last year and was playing just his sixth European Tour event following his step up at qualifying school.