Tommy Fleetwood is poised to compete in a British Open on ground he knows intimately, aiming to capture his first major title in his hometown of Southport, England. The event at Royal Birkdale holds particular significance for the 35-year-old, who is ranked No. 9 in the world. Fleetwood grew up in Southport and has a long-standing connection to the area, having spent time on the Royal Birkdale course since childhood.
"Birkdale was always kind of hallowed turf for people that lived in Southport," Fleetwood said. His father, Pete, is a member at nearby Formby Hall, where Fleetwood honed his game. The club even features a permanent parking spot in Fleetwood's name and an annual junior competition, the "Tommy Fleetwood Champion" award. A section of the club's bar area is also known as the "Tommy Fleetwood Lounge."
The practice ground for the tournament is situated on the grounds of Hillside, a course adjacent to Royal Birkdale where Fleetwood has been a member since turning professional. "It’s obviously very, very special," Fleetwood commented. "It’s very rare to have an opportunity to play a tournament, let alone The Open, in the town where you grew up in front of fans that were all there to support you. I still have lots of memories from the 2017 Open here."
The last time The Open was held at Birkdale, in 2017, marked Fleetwood's significant introduction to the wider golf public. Despite an opening round of 76, he made the cut and finished tied for 27th after weekend rounds of 66 and 70. That performance, alongside his engagement with the crowd, made him a notable figure during the event, even as Jordan Spieth claimed victory.
Fleetwood acknowledged the unique pressure and pleasure of competing in front of a home crowd. "You can’t hide from it," he stated. "There’s no way I can underplay it. If I just go back to the original me being an 8-year-old kid, the thought of playing in an Open at Birkdale was unbelievably special. You own how much you want it. So, if you’re not going to enjoy it, then you’ve kind of let yourself down in that sense. I’m just excited for the opportunity to play in front of everybody."
He added, "At the end of the day, as much as it means to me — and I would never play it down how big it feels to play an Open at Birkdale and how amazing it would be to win an Open — but it is still like a game of golf and people would dream of being in the situation I’m in. It’s still important to remember that and enjoy it."
Fleetwood's recent form has been strong, with one PGA Tour victory at the 2025 Tour Championship. He has achieved five top-10 finishes this year, including three in the top 5, and has placed in the top 15 in his last 15 starts. His best Open Championship performance was a runner-up finish in 2019 at Portrush, and he tied for fourth in 2022 at St. Andrews.
A prominent mural of Fleetwood, created by local artist Paul Curtis, adorns the wall of the Southport & Birkdale Sports Club, symbolizing his connection to the community. "Golf is a very individual sport, and I feel like I spend my life, as every other golfer does, chasing your goals and your dreams, and you do that sort of on a very individual basis," Fleetwood said. "I’ve always been very lucky with support all around the world, but then to see people very much emotionally invested in you and showing things like that, I think it’s very special. It definitely doesn’t go unnoticed by me."
Fellow players express admiration for Fleetwood. "I don’t know anyone who would say a bad word about Tommy, he’s such a great guy," said Matt Fitzpatrick. The sentiment is echoed by the local anticipation, with chants of "Come on, Tommy lad" expected throughout the tournament.