THE 151ST OPEN

July 21, 2023

Tommy Fleetwood

Mixed Zone

Q. Tough round for you out there, but you must feel like it's in your sights at least.

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: Yeah, it turned into a grind in the end. I actually think for the most part of the round I played -- I actually felt like I played really, really well. I just never got any momentum built and didn't hole any putts, and eventually I had the long one on 10.

I felt like I played well for a lot of it, but just in the end it was hard. One mistake on 16 with the tee shot; the bunkers are the ultimate hazards.

But at the same time, the way that I started the round yesterday where I felt like I had to grind it out a little bit, today was the finish where I felt like I had to do that, and that's just as satisfying as playing great.

You know you stuck in there and overall level par wasn't really a bad round today. It feels good.

Q. You go head-to-head with Brian tomorrow; going into tomorrow how are your thoughts?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: Yeah, Brian had two amazing days. I was watching his round this morning and he was playing great. He really has done so.

He's a long way in front. Of course there's a long way to go, but still, for myself and everybody else playing, it's just do your thing, play one shot at a time.

We don't know what the conditions are going to bring, and you just have to keep playing until it's over and see where you finish.

Q. The last few events you've won you've chased down from halfway sort of similar position, so you've got form for doing this?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: Yeah, you know, I've put in chases before in the past, and look, at the end of the day if somebody said you're going out in the last group on Saturday, I don't care what the situation was or what anybody had shot, I'd have probably taken it.

That's the way I look at it, and just look forward to playing over the weekend.

Q. How much can you feed off the energy of the crowd? Obviously a lot of support out there for you.

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: Oh, they've been insanely amazing. They really, really have. Loved every minute of playing in front of them, and I can't thank everybody enough, can't have asked for any more from anybody with all the support they're giving me out here and everybody is talking about it.

Yeah, the northwest is definitely making a name for itself with how they are. It's been great, and I'm just excited to play in front of them. I really am.

Q. I know this is a little off topic, but can you tell us about your mom and you when you were a little kid how she might have helped you?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: Well, she took me everywhere. She was always the driver and she would always take me to the range, to the golf, wherever I wanted to go. Always a very supporting influence. She was a very tough woman, which was great.

Yeah, she was always such a supporter. Never, ever -- she never said no to taking me anywhere, which as a parent, you look back at it, and it's what you always would want.

Your parents play such a huge role in the rest of your life really, so she was great to me and never stopped me from playing or practising.