Tommy Fleetwood is excited to be staking his claim for glory at the 150th Open Championship this week, after producing a late charge at the Genesis Scottish Open.
The Merseysider, who as a child used to sneak onto the Royal Birkdale course in his hometown of Southport, is currently ranked 35th in the world and heads to St Andrews on the back of a fourth-placed finish at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick after a final round three under par 67 saw him race up the leaderboard and climb nine world ranking places in the process.
Only a first round 73 prevented the 31-year-old from honing in on what could have been a fifth European Tour career win, shooting below 70 on all three of his subsequent rounds. But the Formby Hall success story is now looking forward to the real business of trying to land his first major at the home of golf, amid a star-studded field.
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Speaking after the Scottish Open, he said: “It's going to be special at St Andrews. It's my dream, and a lot of other people's dreams, is to win and lift that trophy. I feel good. The course was pretty fast. It was great to play in those conditions and get a sense of how the ball is reacting. I get excited whenever I go to St Andrews, whether it's an Open Championship or Dunhill Links Championship or just for fun.
“I bogeyed the last so you come off a bit disappointed. I think I had half a chance if I could have just made par there. But overall I played great, so I have to be happy with that. I think I improved every day and throughout the week. Whatever happens, it's a really good result and it's a positive week.
“This season I’ve been there or thereabouts, just with nothing that great happening. It's been pretty good. Not bad. Just not where I want to be. I want to be better. Everybody wants to be better and I think I can be but overall it's been a much more positive year than last year."
Fleetwood is not the only Merseyside representation who will be amongst the Open contenders come Thursday. Wirral's Matthew Jordan has made the grade and despite being ranked 300 in the world, the Royal Liverpool star arrives with a bit of St Andrews pedigree. With one European Tour victory to his name, the 26-year-old is considered a rank outsider, but as an amateur he won the St Andrews Links Trophy on the Old Course in 2017 and after turning professional in 2018, will be looking to use his knowledge of links golf to spring a surprise on the field this time around.
As ever though, all eyes will be on Tiger Woods as the global superstar looks to defy his age and injuries by clinching a fourth Open Championship title to add to his phenomenal 15 triumphs in golf's 'majors'.
World number two Rory McIlory has been instilled as the tournament favourite, followed by Americans Xander Schauffele and Jordan Spieth, either side of Spaniard Jon Rahm. Fleetwood is a considered a 40/1 shot but those looking for a bold each-way punt may want to consider Hoylake links expert Jordan who can be backed at 250/1.
The 150th Open Championship takes place at St Andrews Old Course, Scotland on Thursday, July 14-Sunday, July 1
