'You Can't Ask For More' - Tommy Fleetwood Hails Home Fans After Opening 66
The Southport-born pro is cheered into a share of the clubhouse lead after the opening round of The Open
Local favourite Tommy Fleetwood gave the fans exactly what they wanted on the first day of the 151st Open at Royal Liverpool, the Southport-man shooting a sparkling five-under 66 to the delight of the galleries.
By the time the six-time DP World Tour winner walked off the 18th green at around 3pm to sign caps and flags for his many young fans, Fleetwood had earned himself a share of the lead alongside amateur Christo Lamprecht.
The Open runner-up from four years ago was understandably very pleased with his day’s work, especially given a number of slow starts that have plagued some of his Major Championship showings in recent times.
Fleetwood, who also finished joint fourth at St Andrews last year, admitted that it was “up there” with the most enjoyable rounds that he’s ever had at a Major Championship.
“It was very cool, and I think you can't ask for more from the fans and the support,” said a smiling Fleetwood. “They were so great to me today.
“The northwest is where I'm from. I'll always be a northwest boy, and to have so many people out there from the area supporting is really, really great.”
The majority of the Englishman’s good work was done on the back nine. After turning in one-under, the 32-year-old, who was playing alongside world number one Scottie Scheffler and former Masters champion Adam Scott, got the fans going with four birdies in seven holes.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
A par at the last made it a good day for Fleetwood and a good day for the fans, who had already enjoyed seeing another local lad in the form of Royal Liverpool member, Matthew Jordan, shoot a very tidy 69.
Fleetwood also said it was “cool” to see the Amateur champion, Lamprecht, at the top of the leaderboard, a player he recently got to enjoy watching on television.
“My boys wanted to watch the British Amateur. What a great round. Sort of seeing an amateur's name up on the leaderboard is always something that's so special about Major Championships. You're watching somebody's career start to blossom.”
Lamprecht’s Amateur Championship victory came not too far away at Hillside, a course Fleetwood is very familiar with having hosted the British Masters there in 2019.
He added: “I think in general if you have the ability to play well on links golf, you can sort of adapt to any golf course.
“You see so many people now playing the Scottish Open before The Open, and I think just that feeling of it and the way the courses play, I think if you get familiar with it and if you seem to play well in those, it's obviously going to follow at some point.”
Michael has been with Golf Monthly since 2008. As a multimedia journalist, he has also worked for The Football Association, where he created content to support the men's European Championships, The FA Cup, London 2012, and FA Women's Super League. As content editor at Foremost Golf, Michael worked closely with golf's biggest equipment manufacturers, and has developed an in-depth knowledge of this side of the industry. He's now a regular contributor, covering instruction, equipment and feature content. Michael has interviewed many of the game's biggest stars, including six world number ones, and has attended and reported on many Major Championships and Ryder Cups. He's a member of Formby Golf Club.
-
Ryder Cup Tickets Sold Out After 'Enormous' Global Demand
There was an outcry when the PGA of America charged $750 for Ryder Cup tickets, but after over 500,000 fans applied they've already sold out
By Paul Higham Published
-
John Wood Facts: 10 Things To Know About The NBC Sports Broadcaster
John Wood had a career in the game long before he joined NBC Sports’ golf broadcast team – here are 10 things to know about the American
By Mike Hall Published
-
Why Straka And Lowry Was An Easy Ryder Cup Pairing For Luke Donald
Sometimes equipment can dictate who plays with who in the foursomes
By Michael Weston Published
-
Crowd Influencing Play ‘A Slippery Slope’ - McIlroy Issues Warning Amid Gambling Rise
There are some concerns that spectators are influencing play at tournaments
By Michael Weston Published
-
Usual Suspects And Surprise Packages In 2023 Men’s Major Round-Up
The 2023 Men’s Major season is over. It’s delivered some scintillating golf and some surprise packages over the last three months
By Fergus Bisset Published
-
Why Brian Harman’s Open Win Will Fan The Flames Of The Distance Debate
Brian Harman displayed at Royal Liverpool that distance isn’t everything at the very highest levels of men’s golf.
By Fergus Bisset Published
-
How McIlroy And Fleetwood Came Up Short On The Greens At 151st Open
Even if Brian Harman hadn’t shown up, fan favourites Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood would have fallen short at Hoylake says Fergus Bisset.
By Fergus Bisset Published
-
Rory McIlroy 'Optimistic' Despite Major Drought Extending To A Decade
The Ulsterman last won a Major title at the PGA Championship nine years ago
By Michael Weston Published
-
LIV Golf Stand-In Laurie Canter Plans DP World Tour Return
The Englishman joined LIV Golf in 2022, but he hopes to compete on the DP World Tour again in August
By Michael Weston Published
-
'Very Similar Except For The Fact That He Stands On The Wrong Side Of The Golf Ball' - Zach Johnson On Brian Harman
The US Ryder Cup captain recognises a lot of his own game in the man who lead's the 151st Open Championship
By Michael Weston Published