Tommy Fleetwood just fired a three-under 67 on Friday, rocketing to joint eighth place on four under, and he is 100% crediting the home crowd at Royal Birkdale for pushing him right into contention at The Open. This isn’t just a good round, folks, this is a local hero feeding off pure energy.
The Local Lad’s Surge to the Top
Fleetwood, a guy who grew up just up the road in Southport, has made it clear the support has been an “absolute pleasure” to play in front of. He loves giving them “something to cheer about” and you can tell it’s making a real difference. Remember his opening day 69, where he had to scramble just to get there? Well, Friday was a grind too, but a flurry of three crucial birdies in the final five holes had those home fans absolutely erupting. He said the fans “helped me so much [on Thursday] when I was struggling.” Can you imagine that kind of boost? This isn’t just golf, it is a connection. Fleetwood, who still talks with the same accent as the thousands cheering him on, remains totally relatable even as a PGA Tour winner, a European Ryder Cup talisman, and one of the best players out there who somehow still hasn’t snagged a major. He literally used to scamper over the Royal Birkdale fence as a kid dreaming of this moment. You know his dreams started here, and now it’s getting real.
The Stacked Field Chasing History
While Fleetwood is grabbing all the headlines, Lucas Herbert from Australia is currently leading the pack, sitting four shots ahead after a mind-blowing, record-equalling 62 on Friday. But Fleetwood isn’t alone in chasing him down. There is a “stellar pack” right there with him, including Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, English pros Matt Wallace and Alex Fitzpatrick, Spanish superstar Jon Rahm, and even the defending champion and world number one, Scottie Scheffler. Talk about a leaderboard! Plus, Bryson DeChambeau is somehow “well in the mix” even after getting hit with a controversial two-shot penalty for “inadvertently improving his lie.” The drama is already off the charts, but everyone knows Fleetwood is staying the absolute center of attention on Saturday.
Saturday is going to be electric. Fleetwood admitted, “Of course there’s pressure.” He knows his “own expectations are huge” and that “all that stuff’s massive,” but he’s calling it “only good stuff.” If this local hero pulls off a win on Sunday, Birkdale and the surrounding areas are going to throw a party unlike anything they have ever seen. You do not want to miss what happens next.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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