Perhaps the only golfer Xander Schauffele will fear over a weekend at Le Golf National is Tommy Fleetwood. Regardless of what transpires between now and January, Schauffele is the player of the year. The claiming of two major championships secures that honour. Yet one player who certainly has capacity to knock the American off his stride over the closing 36 holes at the Olympics is Fleetwood. Course and distance specialism belong to the Team GB man.
Six years have flown by since Fleetwood and Francesco Molinari formed the “Moliwood” partnership in swatting aside Americans during the Ryder Cup. This week marks the world No 14’s first visit to Le Golf National since what is widely regarded as the standout event of his career thus far. So far, so good; Fleetwood’s Friday 64 means he is the joint leader on 11 under par with Schauffele and 2021 Masters winner Hideki Matsuyama. Things would look even more promising for Fleetwood but for a dropped shot at the last.
