Home can be best for Tommy Fleetwood

Tommy Fleetwood has had The Open inked in his diary for months.

And he couldn’t have scripted it better as he makes his Major debut on a course he often plays with a friend.

Fleetwood grew up in Southport on that classic stretch of Lancashire golfing coastline and he can’t wait to travel down across the Mersey to Royal Liverpool.

He skipped last week’s French Open to get some early practice in at Hoylake and felt inspired.

“It’s every golfer’s dream to play in The Open, and it’s extra special with it being at home,” he smiles.

“I always play Hoylake in the winter with one of my best friends, who is a member there. But the course plays so differently.

“When I played on it last week, the stands were up and it was almost unrecognisable. But I’m sure having played it a lot will help me, as will staying in my own bed.

“It was surreal walking round and I even got goosebumps walking down the 18th and that was with no-one there.

“I hope I’ll have plenty of people cheering me on. If not, I’ll have done something wrong in the 23 years I’ve been alive!”

Fleetwood earned his spot in the field by finishing in the top 30 in last year’s Race to Dubai.

The bedrock of that was his maiden European Tour victory at the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles. And he’s enjoyed being back in Scotland fine-tuning his Open preparation at Royal Aberdeen.

“I’ve played a lot of links golf and I love it because you need a wide array of shots,” he says. “It’s a test of your whole game.

“This week is a perfect warm up, with the wind making it tough. I’ve only been on the Tour a couple of years but the Scottish Open is already one of my favourite events.”