THE 150TH OPEN

July 16, 2022

Tommy Fleetwood

Mixed Zone

Q. Tommy, it looks a lot of fun out there. How did it go with your round?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: Got off to a really fast start, which felt like I not necessarily needed to, but I wanted to, so that was great. It was just great to get a bit of momentum.

I think I'd love the middle half of the round to be -- definitely that stretch, 9, 10 -- 11 was playing pretty tough -- but 12, those ones that you feel like a birdie but I didn't really make anything, but the finish there felt really important. You don't know where the leaders are going to finish up.

Just to get that out of the last few holes and finish on that felt really good. So happy that I keep improving every day at the moment.

Q. You put yourself up there.

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: Yeah, which I thought I could do today. Like I said yesterday, after a disappointing first round, all I could do was kind of stick in, try to get the most out of it, stick around, and then today shoot a good round and see where we end up and go again tomorrow.

Today was great. Just getting something going in an Open on a Saturday is really, really cool when you do that and you have the support. I was just really pleased with how it was going out there.

Q. How good did that feel on the 18th to hole that? Does that give you the momentum you need for tomorrow?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: It felt important. Again, like the difference in what the finish makes -- like yesterday felt like I played a really nice round of golf. Bogeyed 17 -- 17 is a very, very hard hole; bogey's not bad. Then I didn't birdie 18. You come off and think, oh, I'd like to get a couple more out of it.

Today I birdied 15, parred 17 and birdied 18. But they all felt really important just being in the position we're in. Just can't afford to be dropping back too much and giving away too much chances at this point when you know the leaders are a long way ahead of you and you're trying to catch up.

They were good. The up-and-down on 17 and that last putt on 18 -- you know, because it's -- obviously, it's reachable. It's not guaranteed birdie, but you feel like, those kind of holes, you feel like you make par and you've lost one where you should get one, but they're never guaranteed. That putt felt really good.

Q. If someone finishes on to 14-, 15-under, how do you fancy your chances?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: Well, I'd have taken it at the start of the day, that's for sure. I've just got to sit back and wait. Sort of do what I'm going to do this afternoon and evening now and see where we end up.

Yeah, I think -- see, if they don't get too far away, it will be nice teeing off tomorrow feeling like we have a chance and see if we can get some momentum going on the front nine. Yeah, it would be very cool and very special to be able to have a go again like down the stretch on a Sunday at The Open.

So I'll just wait and see. It's not in my hands. See what those guys do. And if they get too far ahead, I'll be doing my best tomorrow anyway, but it will be nice to have a chance, that's for sure.

Q. Do you feel the wind's picked up in the last few holes?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: It picked up -- it did pick up a bit. It definitely picked up gradually throughout the day. It was a little bit cooler. Generally most holes are across. Like yesterday felt like I played every hole into the wind pretty much with that wind switch.

But most winds are across, which kind of -- nothing plays against you or for you, in a way. But it definitely picked up a bit, and it will be interesting to see because all the course is going to do is get firmer throughout the day. So it will be interesting how it plays and how the guys do.

Some pins felt more accessible. Some pins felt tougher. But overall, especially this morning, it was a perfect day for scoring for the ones that went out early.

Q. Tommy, anything from your experiences at Portrush that can help you tomorrow?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: Well, I think my experience of playing on a Sunday, I didn't win or anything, but I felt like I did a pretty good job, with Shane aside. Shane was exceptional on that particular day. The more you're up there on a Sunday and compete, the more you have a chance of eventually getting over the line. I think that's all you can really keep doing and keep focusing on.

It's nice to be playing well again. We'll see. Like Portrush feels like a long time ago at the moment. But at the moment and in the current situation, I feel like I've been gradually improving, gradually building a bit of momentum, and results have been slowly coming.

How my game's been holding up much better throughout four rounds than it was during last year where I was nowhere to be seen in a way. So it's nice to be sort of having a go again and seeing what we can do.

Q. It was a good start from Justin Reed (phonetic). He said that's your ninth major round of 66 or more since 2017, only Cook and Spieth have more during that period.

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: It would be nice to have as many majors as them.

Q. Even though you don't, do you feel as though that on some occasion a major brings out the best in you?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: Yeah, I think -- yeah, I enjoy majors. I enjoy preparing for them. I think, in general, like the tougher tests tend to fit my game. I'm a bit more of a patient player. I don't know why, but it brings out the best in me in a way.

It's nice, a stat like that, that I've shot a lot of good rounds in majors and draw on those kinds of things to give you confidence. I've always liked playing these events. I've always liked testing myself against the best players on the toughest courses.

Yeah, I haven't won a major yet, and to be honest, I haven't won any kind of tournament for a while, and my game hasn't really been in a position to do so. But it's coming back. Yeah, the more stats like that, it's a nice feeling, isn't it?

Q. Obviously in Ireland that day, Shane had massive crowd support, understandably. Do you sort of hope that tomorrow possibly you could benefit from that?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: Yeah, I mean, it's like one of the one and only times where I'd probably have the most support playing on a Sunday in an Open was that time. They were still great.

Support's been amazing this week. I always cherish this event and the sort of connection and support I get from the crowds. I would love to sort of give them something to cheer about tomorrow and have them carry me along again. That would be great.

So, yeah, I think for us The Open is such a special event. I've always said it. I work very, very hard for Sundays, to compete on Sundays, and this will be another one of those hopefully, if the guys don't get too far ahead.

Either way, it's been an amazing experience and the support's always great. I'll just keep giving it my best shot, and we'll see.