MEN'S OLYMPIC GOLF COMPETITION

August 2, 2024

Tommy Fleetwood

Le Golf National

Quick Quotes

Q. Talk us through the 18th and what choices did you have?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: :

Q. Were you in control out there?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: : Kind of. Like I say, I haven't felt particularly comfortable with my swing all week. But I've been doing the things that I know are right and I've put the ball in play a lot and I've been doing the right things, and I think gradually as you keep hitting enough good shots, obviously you confidence build and you keep drawing on those feelings.

It's coming. It's closer and I hit some beautiful iron shots and I think I definitely had a good sort of idea of what I was doing with the golf ball throughout the day, and especially today, I think like when I had to get up-and-down, or I had to make a par save, I did it, and when you have rounds like to today, obviously 7-under is a really good one, you have to make those as well.

Q. Is a lot of that based on feel, your knowledge of this golf course?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: : Not necessarily. I've played it enough to understand sort of how the golf course plays. It's an amazing tee shot and approach shot golf course. He I feel comfortable with the decisions I make off the tee. You still have to step up and hit a golf shot but I feel comfortable with how the course plays and the game plan and that. So that's one thing. But like I say, you still have to step up and hit the golf shots. I've done that good so far and I'll try and just keep doing that.

Q. Fourth place has no meaning in this golf tournament. There's no points or money to protect. Does it change your mentality at all for how you play the course?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: : I think it's definitely as the week goes on it becomes more of a mental challenge. Obviously you know that three places are what is going to decide your week, in a way, and usually, you finish top five, top 10, you've had a great week but it don't mean anything. I think you have to, it's going to be harder than a lot of weeks where you always know, you play until the end, you get the best score you can whereas this is it's own unique, once every four years, top three count. I just think that's something to, that you have to be aware of and deal with. But you know, two rounds in and still got a chance, so it's a nice feeling.

Q. You've got some good memories and experiences at this course that you can draw on. Do you think that will help you going into the weekend?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: It would be nice to think so. Like I say, look, whatever happened six years ago has no effect on what is going to happen tomorrow morning or tomorrow afternoon but you're always better off coming to a course where you have good feelings and good things have happened. So I'll definitely draw on those but again, you know, I have to stand up there tomorrow and hit the golf shots. Nothing that's happened in the past is going to do it for me. Like I say, it's better having good feelings than having a course that's battered you to pieces.

Q. A lot of chants for your name at the end.

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: : It's been nice, yeah.

Q. Home crowd?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: : It's been great. The crowd has been absolutely amazing. It's a different set of supporters than what we get week-in and week-out. It's a very Olympic crowd and atmosphere and it's been great. I always consider myself very lucky with the support I've get but those have been amazing out there. Wyndham and Hideki, both -- so that was sweet. They have been great with me.

Q. What's The French Open trophy?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: : Round and heavy, a bit squat like you do (laughter).

Q. Wow.

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: : It's a big bowl. It's a bowl, like a heavy, round bowl.

Q. What color is it?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: : Silver. Mine hasn't been cleaned for a little bit but it's silver.

Q. Tom Kim is on the leaderboard. Can you fathom the pressure of having to win a medal to avoid a military term?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: : Not really, no. Obviously I guess where we're from, we don't grow up even having to think about that or know that that's coming. So I think -- I don't know how Tom would feel about it or people have gone in his position in the past and whether they are, you know, very ready for whatever the circumstance is.

It's hard, really. Without having any experience of it, so I don't know. But definitely, I can't imagine sort of what it's like.

Q. Is it more difficult than usual to contain the excitement?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: : Yeah, I think so. I actually haven't been in contention for a while. I kind of enjoy that on its own, as well as it being the Olympics.

Like I say, it brings with it its own mental challenges. You're playing for a medal. You look at the atmosphere this week, we constantly get asked the question, where does the Olympics sit in golf. When you look at how it's going this week, it continues and continues to grow, and what people feel about it. It brings its own nerves and excitement and it's very, very special. So you know, yeah, it's its own unique feeling and it's amazing.

Q. How many times has JR shown you his Gold?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: : I've never seen it actually. He might have mentioned it a few times but I've never seen it.

Q. At the end of a player's career, one thing if he doesn't have a major, Monty, for example. How do you think it would be if you didn't have a major at the end of your career but you've got a Gold Medal?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: : Still got a Gold Medal, right, I kind of look at things -- I try and look at things through the eyes of like Frankie, for instance, my son, at six years old. If I had a Gold Medal, he would always take when I was gone or whatever, and I think what an unbelievably special thing to have. I think being able to be a part of or one of all these unbelievable athletes that putt their heart and soul into their chosen craft and a Gold Medal is the absolute pinnacle of what they do. And I think I have an unbelievable respect for that, and I understand how special it is and how much it means. So I mean, ideally I would like both but you know, still, a Gold Medal would be something that I would be very proud of.

Q. You obviously had that very different Olympic experience in Tokyo. Do you think with the crowds now, you've got the proper Olympic experience?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: : Yeah, I think it's taken everybody by surprise, like how amazing the crowds have been and what the atmosphere has been like. Yeah, this has been nice to get that Olympic experience. It's been really cool.