Tommy Fleetwood was left flabbergasted after an unusual encounter with a spectator at this weekend’s RBC Heritage in South Carolina. Fleetwood remained in touching distance of the overnight leader, Justin Thomas, after round two, but it wasn’t without a helping hand, quite literally, from a member of the crowd.
The Englishman entered his first event since last weekend’s Masters, where Fleetwood finished nine strokes behind eventual winner and Ryder Cup team-mate Rory McIlroy. With McIlroy opting out of the RBC Heritage at Harbour Town, Fleetwood, and the rest of his PGA Tour competitors are looking to capitalise on his absence.
It was as Fleetwood was beginning to work his way down the back nine when his tee shot fell straight into the arms of a bemused spectator. The man, who was unharmed by the incident, stood motionless with the ball in his arms as Fleetwood wandered up the fairway in search of it.
Upon Fleetwood’s discovery, the crowd surrounding the ball let out a large laugh, with the gentleman in question stating: “Just trying to help you out, brother.” Fleetwood, sensing an opportunity to crack a joke of his own, replied: “Can you just take a walk up there,” pointing towards the flag about 200 yards in the distance.
The man remained unmoved during the pair’s interaction, during which Fleetwood appeared stunned as to how his ball had been left wedged between the gent’s folded arms and chest. While waiting for the referee to arrive on the scene, the two were discussing what the next move would be, with Fleetwood saying: “I feel like I just drop it.”
Eventually, after a short delay, Fleetwood resumed his round from the rough, sending a raking shot trundling onto the green in stylish fashion. Unfortunately for the 34-year-old, he wasn’t able to capitalise and missed a putt for birdie before knocking in to secure a par score on the 10th.
However, it was a great round on the whole for Fleetwood, who is still searching for his first-ever PGA Tour title. The Southport-born ace shot five under for the round, having hit six birdies and just the one bogey, leaving himself nine under heading into day three.
If he’s to end the wait for a PGA Tour title this weekend, Fleetwood will most likely have to overcome leader Thomas, who is 12 under after 36 holes. After equalling the course record in his opening round with a score of 10 under, Thomas’ second round was a little more laboured, with the American 12 under, two strokes ahead of Kim Si Woo and Russell Henley in T2.
