Major dreams and Middle East War in Fleetwood's Masters thoughts
World number four Tommy Fleetwood of England seeks his first major golf title at the 90th Masters (DAVID CANNON) While Tommy Fleetwood dreams of winning his first major title at this week's Masters, the Dubai resident's thoughts are also on the Middle East War and people at his golf academy there. The 35-year-old Englishman, runner-up at the 2018 US Open and 2019 British Open plus the 2024 Paris Olympics, has a best Masters finish of third in 2024 as he prepares for his 10th start at Augusta National. "It would be very special," Fleetwood said Tuesday of winning this week.
"We've watched some of the best shots of all time here on the back nine of Augusta over the last however many years, and you can relate to that because you feel like you know it. Whether you've played here or not, you feel like you know so much about it. " World number four Fleetwood, an eight-time winner on the DP World Tour, captured his first US PGA Tour title at last year's Tour Championship to take the FedEx Cup playoff crown.
But he yearns for the major title that has eluded him through 41 major starts and eight top-10 finishes. "You always know that how much you want it is there in the background, so I try to let that be a thing and then just focus on what I'm doing at the time," said Fleetwood. "I would love to be there late on Sunday in with a chance.
Those juices flowing on the back nine of Augusta... But I've never had that joy yet of playing on the back nine with a chance to win the Masters. Yeah, I'd really love that so much.
" Fleetwood opened a youth golf academy in Dubai in 2022, but with the region engulfed in war, he worries for the safety of staff, students and friends there. "I'm lucky that my family are with me this week. I think it's difficult," Fleetwood said.