Tommy Fleetwood Dreams of Winning The Open in His Hometown

A Local Boy with Big Dreams

Imagine growing up in a town where golf is everywhere. That’s what happened to Tommy Fleetwood. As a boy in Southport, England, he and his friends sometimes sneaked onto the course at Royal Birkdale Golf Club — the very place where this week’s Open Championship is being played.

"I did it once or twice," Fleetwood said on Monday. "It wasn’t like every day."

Now, on Sunday, he hopes to win his first major championship right where he learned to play.

Why This Tournament Means So Much

The Open Championship (often just called "The Open") is a huge golf tournament. An English-born golfer hasn’t won it since Nick Faldo earned his third Claret Jug (the trophy) back in 1992.

Fleetwood says:

• It’s “very, very special” to play near home.
• Southport is a “golfing town” and Birkdale is loved by locals.
• Just competing there feels like a dream come true.

Fleetwood’s History at Royal Birkdale

This isn’t his first time playing The Open at Birkdale:

• In 2017, he started with a rough round (6-over 76).
• He fought back on Friday to make the cut (stay in the tournament).
• He finished tied for 27th, 13 shots behind winner Jordan Spieth.
• He called his Friday round “one of the best” he ever played to survive.

How Good Is Fleetwood Now?

Nine years later, at age 35, Fleetwood is one of the best in the world:

• He is the reigning FedEx Cup champion.
• He has won 11 times around the world.
• He is ranked 9th in the Official World Golf Ranking.
• He got his first PGA Tour win last year at the Tour Championship.
• This will be his 45th start in a major tournament.
• He was runner-up in the 2018 U.S. Open and 2019 Open Championship.

Important: Fleetwood says winning a major is the “ultimate accolade” in golf, but he doesn’t want to stress about needing one to feel successful. He just gives it his all.

The Home Crowd Love

This week, thousands of fans will cheer for him. You can even see:

• A mural of Fleetwood at the Southport & Birkdale Sports Club.
• A painting of him on a lawn at a shopping center in nearby Liverpool.

He says golf is usually a lonely sport, but the local support feels “very special” and gives him “positive fuel.”

Even though he mostly lives in Dubai now, he keeps ties to Southport:

• He is a member at Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa (where he played as a kid).
• He is also a member at Hillside Golf Club.

Summary

Tommy Fleetwood grew up sneaking onto the Royal Birkdale course in Southport. Now he’s a world-class golfer ranked 9th globally, and he’s playing The Open there again. He’d love to win his first major in front of hometown fans who clearly adore him. While he knows majors are the biggest prize in golf, he’s just happy to chase his dream with their support.

FAQ

1. Who is Tommy Fleetwood?
He is a 35-year-old English golfer from Southport who is ranked 9th in the world and has won 11 tournaments globally.

2. What is The Open Championship?
It is a famous yearly golf tournament. In 2026, it is being held at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England.

3. Has an English golfer won The Open recently?
No. The last English-born winner was Nick Faldo in 1992.

4. How has Fleetwood done at Birkdale before?
In 2017, he made the cut after a bad first round and finished tied for 27th.

5. Why does the hometown crowd matter to him?
Because golf is individual, but seeing locals paint murals and cheer makes him feel lucky and motivated.