Tommy Fleetwood pulls no punches in this candid interview from Royal Portrush. He reflects on the frustration of an inconsistent week at The Open, transparently acknowledging the highs and lows he navigated on one of golf’s toughest courses. Despite the roller‑coaster, Fleetwood is setting his eyes on the bigger prize: a spot on Team Europe for the upcoming Ryder Cup. He also addresses the challenge of competing against Formidable Scottie Scheffler and why that push only makes him a better player.
Get a peek into Fleetwood’s mindset, resilience, and what he believes it will take to make the Ryder Cup team and contend on golf’s biggest stage.
round today. How pleased are you? Yeah, it was a nice finish. Um I played very very good today. Uh I uh actually felt like I put it well on the back n as well and some sked the edge. So um again like feels like um you know aside from the first day where I felt like I had to really scrap I didn’t play well at all. Uh the rest of the week I felt like I played much better than I scored and just couldn’t. Some good starts which I think I think it’s the golf course as well. Obviously there’s a good, you know, par five on two short, par four on five, you got seven as well. So that’s the course like you have to get off to good starts. But I just was always a fraction away from being satisfied if you like every day. But still, you know, it’s been a pretty good week. So how do you reflect on it, the whole experience, not just the gold, but being here in Northern Ireland? It’s been I mean I’ve played two opens here now. Um and they’ve been great. The atmospherees have been great. Like I said, you know, the 2019 I played with Shane in the final round. Um and this week I had Rory for the first two days as well. So um you know being part of the atmosphere I think is great. I think personally the golf course how it plays um is is great. Uh so I’ I’ve enjoyed it again. Um like I say aside from my own sort of feeling of I wish I could have just done bit more. Um I don’t think I’d have been catching Scotty anyway. So by the looks of it but you just you know you’re looking for your own personal satisfaction. But it’s been a very very good week in a great venue. You mentioned there just got a sheer. It’s not finished yet, but it looks like he’s going to be a procession. I mean, just how impressive is it what he’s been doing here? Oh, yeah. It’s amazing. I think he’s um you know, I suppose he’s earned the right to be spoke about how he how people speak about him and um I’m just having a look at what he’s doing on a par five. It looks like he’s actually not making birdie on the hole. Um uh but yeah, you know, phenomenal player and I think um having someone like that to uh keep us looking up to and keep us all chasing um you know, is great and I think obviously if he keeps going the way he is, I think we’re all going to look back and talk about him in the same breath as some of the all-time greats, uh you know, when he was played in our generation. So, we’ll see. Um but he’s you know, you don’t want to obviously just predict what’s going to happen today. I don’t want to like jinx him or anything like that, but um it does look like everybody’s saying like it’s going to be a procession, but golf is a funny game, but we’ll see. It looks like he’s going to be what, four majors in, three down to a career grand slam. So, uh very impressive. Can would you indulge me with an answer about the Riner Cup? How much you looking forward to that? Yeah. Well, again, I’ll wait until um I you know, I’ve either qualified for the team when that comes or um if I need a pick, I would love to have a pick and hopefully be there in September with uh with the team again. Um, you know, I I think it’s a very exciting prospect to go. Uh, I think we’re all very much looking forward to the challenge that it’ll be. Um, and uh, yeah, I I I really hope I’m there and I hope I can be playing well and contributing when I am there. And, um, yeah, very excited for what uh, for what that will be. I’m sure it’ll be an amazing experience for us all. Bryson Dambo’s just been in here saying they’re looking to crank up the noise. I suppose you wouldn’t be expecting anything less than that. Well, yeah. I mean, yeah, that’s that’s what you would expect, I think. um you know they should absolutely uh you know be that I’m sure they’ll be looking to draw on their home fans home support. I I think it’s such a it’s a great privilege to play a home rider cup and have the support and have the crowds behind you and uh for us we’ll go in there as a team and we’ll just look forward to uh whatever atmosphere um everybody brings and look forward to hopefully putting on a great show and um playing well together and and yeah, obviously we’re looking to hold that trophy at the end so we’ll see. Great. Thank you very much.
