Fleetwood opens up at Open as clock ticks to win | Golf News

Tommy Fleetwood maintains he will not enable golf’s major championships to outline his legacy if he concludes his profession without capturing one of the game’s 4 premier titles.

The current FedEx Cup champion and Ryder Cup standout ranks among the best lively golfers yet to secure a major victory, and he’ll take pleasure in enthusiastic local help at The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale this week.

The English golfer has repeatedly come close at the majors, recording seven top-five performances, and there can be no more acceptable venue than Birkdale, positioned just 5 minutes from where he grew up, to finally break through.

While Fleetwood acknowledges that major victories signify the “ultimate accolade” in golf, the 35-year-old says he’ll take delight in his accomplishments when he retires, regardless of whether or not a triumph on the game’s largest levels materializes.

“I don’t think I want to sort of look towards the future and worry about or think that I have to win a major to feel fulfilled,” he said.

“I think, like everyone else out here, we spend our lives giving it everything, and it might happen for me, it might not.

“I do not need to assume about it as if it would not occur, ‘All of those hours I spent chasing my desires, what was it for?’, type of factor.

“Whatever happens in my career, I’ll be able to look back and say that I gave it everything, and I had an amazing time doing it. I would definitely much prefer to have a major or two or three on my resume by the time my career is over.

“Whether that occurs or not is sometimes out of your control, but I believe making sure you’ve a great time chasing it’s the final factor.”

Fleetwood brings a refreshingly grounded outlook to a sport that has broken the spirits of many, and he remains adamant that no number of near misses will derail his pursuit of glory.

“Dreams do come true, we watch it all the time, but you may never discover out if yours will unless you chase it. Mine would possibly come true; it may not,” he added.

“I believe I’ve performed a lot in my profession so far, but yeah, there’s still a lot more to go. Until my time is up, I’ll keep making an attempt and keep working exhausting, and hopefully you’ll be able to ask me that query again at some level, and I’ll have the option to let you know how I truly really feel.”

A significant portion of the 300,000 crowd anticipated this week will be cheering on their local favorite, and Fleetwood is eager to deliver for them. “It’s clearly very, very particular,” he said.

“I believe for anyone who was fortunate enough to grow up in the city of Southport. It’s such a {golfing} city, and The Open at Birkdale holds such a particular place in the world.

“It’s a dream just to be competing in an Open here, so I feel very, very lucky. Still have lots of memories from the 2017 Open here. I’m just excited for the opportunity to play in front of everybody.

“It’s very uncommon to have an alternative to play a event, let alone The Open, in the city where you grew up in entrance of followers that had been all there to help you. Very excited.”