TOMMY FLEETWOOD felt more like Toffee Fleetwood, as thousands of fellow Everton fans roared him into top spot.
Fleetwood said Royal Liverpool felt more like Goodison Park as he shot a brilliant five-under-par 66 at The Open — and was cheered every step of the way.
Tommy Fleetwood hailed Everton-loving golf fans as he roared to the top of the Open pack
That took him level with giant 6ft 8in South African amateur Christo Lamprecht — who defied his lack of experience with some monster hitting to set the early target.
And they were joined by resurgent Argentine star Emiliano Grillo, 30, who ended a seven-year wait for a second PGA Tour title at the Charles Schwab Challenge in May.
But it was Fleetwood who thrilled the crowds most — and he admitted he was feeding off their energy.
The Southport-born Everton season- ticket holder explained: “The support was great and it felt very cool.
“I would love to play at Goodison and give that a go, and it almost felt like I was doing that at times.
“The crowds were great right from the start and the reception down the last was just amazing.
“It’s a special opportunity to play so close to home. For me, it was so cool.
“I am a lot like the guys that are out there. I am a fan of the game, I am from this area so to feel that support was special.
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“It’s so close to home and an amazing opportunity to play here.
“They have been great. I’m from the North West, I’ll always be a North West boy and to have so many from the area supporting you is great.
“You can put too much pressure on yourself and try too hard — but to have those people egging you on, good shot or bad, makes me feel very lucky.”
Fleetwood, 32, was runner-up at The 2019 Open in Portrush and the US Open the year before.
He has also finished in the top five in four other Majors.
But he has earned a reputation as a slow starter who finishes like a train but leaves himself too much to do.
So this stunner was even more welcome.
He added: “For any tournament you want a fast start and that has not been my strength recently.
“It felt really good. From the fifth or sixth I started hitting good shots and it was a case of finally getting on a run.
“It’s exactly what you want in a first round and it was one of the most enjoyable days I’ve had in a Major.”
Lamprecht, a 22-year-old from the Western Cape studying at Georgia Tech in the USA, clearly loves this part of the world too.
He earned his place in The Open by winning the Amateur Championship just up the coast at Hillside — a couple of miles from Fleetwood’s birthplace.
Lamprecht uses his massive frame to good effect. His ball speed regularly reaches a jaw-dropping 205MPH and his average carry with a driver is 340 yards.
He had to rein things back a bit to avoid the bunkers but was still buzzing about his Major championship debut.
Lamprecht — who holed a chip for birdie at 14 — said: “I’d probably say the first tee shot was the only bit of nerves I had all day.
“Yeah, I just kind of walked off the first tee box after hitting a snap hook drive and my caddie just told me, ‘Listen, you’re playing The Open as an amateur, no need to stress’. We kind of had fun from there.”
Fellow amateur Harrison Crowe said Lamprecht can be an intimidating presence.
The Aussie, 21, said: “He’s a tall bloke. I saw him in the locker room and it’s like looking up at the ceiling!”
Local lad Matthew Jordan hit The Open’s first tee shot on his way to a two-under 69.
The Royal Liverpool member, 27, said: “I’m running out of words to describe it. It was crazy, loud, everything that I could have wished for.
“I’m trying to think of a better experience than that and don’t think I can.”
Aussie Lucas Herbert was closing in on the leaders until he became the first big victim of Hoylake’s ‘Killer Dwarf’ — the controversial 136-yard 17th hole.
He was three under until he sent a chip racing into a bunker, failed to get out with his first attempt and then two-putted for a triple-bogey six.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best shot in golf?
The most important shot a golfer can make is the putt. You can lose the hole and possibly the game because it takes so much skill.
What is the average shot of a golfer?
An average golfer is able to shoot between 80-85 yards and their driver.
Is there a way to make money golfing?
Absolutely! As a professional golfer, there are many ways to make additional income. You can teach, sell merchandise, organize tournaments, and even be a celebrity.
How can my golf score be reduced by five strokes
You must first improve your swing mechanics. Although you may be able to hold the club properly, if your body isn’t comfortable with the swing, it won’t give you the right feedback. Once you’ve learned how to hold the club correctly, you can focus on strengthening your flexibility and strength. Begin slow and work your way up to faster distances. As you progress towards higher scores, your game will become more consistent.
Can I improve my golf game without practicing?
It is vital to practice regularly if you want to improve your game. But, even if it is difficult to practice drills consistently, you can still improve. You must remember to always put your best foot forward and practice what it is you are trying to do. You should play fast if you want to play faster. If you want to hit the target farther, you should also focus on hitting the target further.
Is watching golf a way to improve your game?
It does indeed improve my game.
One of the most popular and loved sports is golf. This sport involves striking a ball towards a target at different distances using sticks, clubs, and so on. It’s a great way to relax and spend some quality time outdoors. You may not know, but there are many advantages to playing golf. Here are some:
- Golf helps you get fit
- Playing golf makes you feel good
- While playing, you don’t need to think as much.
- Golf teaches patience
- Inspiration comes from watching golf
- Golf is fun
- Golf is easy to master
- Golf is more affordable than other sports
- Golf is a great stress reliever
- Golf is a social sport
Statistics
- The blade aim at impact controls 92% of the ball’s start line, so prioritise face aim as a place to start (todaysgolfer.co.uk)
- Stats reveal 96% of golfers play right-handed. (todaysgolfer.co.uk)
- By adding 10 more yards to all their golf shots amateurs will increase the percentage of greens they hit by 8 – 10%. (golfinsideruk.com)
- According to Shot Scope’s database of more than 30 million shots, 80% of missed greens are missed short. (todaysgolfer.co.uk)
- However, if you go in thinking that you will get all the way down to a 10, you will likely stunt your progress because your expectations are way out of line. (practical-golf.com)
External Links
amzn.to
troy.golf
shotscope.com
nicklaus.com
How To
How can you improve your home golf game?
You can practice from anywhere at any time!
You can use any kind of equipment, from a basic putter to a complete set of clubs. There are many options for golf training devices online. These include putting trainers and swing analyzers.
Practice regularly is the best way for you to improve your work golf game. This is best done by finding a nearby course. This allows you to practice whenever it suits you without needing to find a partner, or wait until you get home.
Practice makes perfect, so if you don’t play often enough, try practicing once a week or every two weeks. Playing twice per month is a good idea if you are a regular player. It doesn’t matter how often you practice; just make sure to keep practicing.
You should ensure that the new club fits properly before you purchase it. Bad fitting clubs could result in injury to your golf ball or worse. Make sure you check out reviews before buying anything. You should also consider the size of your grip.
Be sure to warm up before hitting your ball. You might not be able to determine how much force you should use when you first begin playing. Warming up allows you to determine how powerful you need to hit the golf to get certain distances.
