Tommy Fleetwood admits he’d have to run buying a property in the UAE past his fiancee Clare, but it might be something to consider as the Emirates has been a good omen for him after he ended the European Tour season here as Race to Dubai champion.
Fleetwood was also king of the capital in January when winning the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship – a result that sent him down a long and arduous path that finally ended in glory with Fleetwood feeling on top of the world at the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
It was another anxious day though for the Englishman as a horror final round saw him finish +2 over par and tied for 21st place. Only a meltdown from compatriot Justin Rose on the back nine brought him back into contention as late drama unfolded.
Fleetwood, Clare and their new-born son were kept waiting for over 30 minutes as the final calculations were deduced before Fleetwood finally let out a smile, shared an embrace with his wife-to-be and kissed seven-week-old Franklin on the head. He’d sealed the Race to Dubai crown by one shot.
Having just beaten his rival to the title, the Southport native revealed he hopes he can emulate the sort of career enjoyed by Rose – who was a year older (27) than Fleetwood when he won the European Tour Order of Merit 10 years ago.
“That would be a nice career,” said 26-year-old Fleetwood reflecting on Rose’s trophy haul that includes the 2013 US Open and an Olympic Games gold medal.
“I have nothing but respect for him and what he’s done in his career. He’s got one of the best careers going and he’s got a hell of a mantelpiece, I’m sure.
“I would have preferred it to have been easier, but at the same time, it’s been absolutely brilliant going head-to-head and a bit of a dogfight with, in my eyes, one of the greatest players in recent times.”
After getting himself back into contention following a dreadful opening round of 73 with two 65s, Fleetwood again struggled to get any momentum going on Saturday, posting a 74 as Rose enjoyed a scintillating front nine, making the turn at 32. But three bogeys on the back nine saw him slip and left the door open for Fleetwood.
Despite a loss that reduced him to tears, Fleetwood said he and Rose shared a “nice moment” in the booth as they handed over their scorecards.
“He was really nice. He just said congratulations,” said Fleetwood.
“It was such a hard thing to do. It was a tough scenario. I didn’t really feel like I could take any credit for what I had just achieved.
“We are good friends and it’s just the nature of the game; somebody wins, somebody loses, and it was just a difficult situation.
“He was so good. He just said ‘Well deserved. You deserved it all year’.”
It’s been a dramatic turnaround for Fleetwood, who admitted on Saturday his game was “absolutely nowhere” 18 months ago after he had attempted to change his swing.
At the 2016 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, Fleetwood was at his lowest ebb, admitting he had wanted to pull out of the tournament as he feared not being able to get the ball off the tee.
But he recovered and he says he now uses that low as a benchmark to remind himself how far he’s come.
“I was embarrassed how I was hitting it. In all honesty I was scared of what I was going to do,” said Fleetwood.
“Wentworth has always been the benchmark that I’ve looked at. I genuinely turned up the morning and wanted to pull out because I didn’t think I could get it off the first tee.
“That was my lowest moment. However long it’s been, 18 months, 17 months down the line, I’ve won a Race to Dubai.
“I can’t give the people around me enough credit. I know I am out there hitting the shots but there’s a lot of work goes into it that people don’t see. I’m just grateful for everyone around me.”
One of those people has been his dad Peter, who was in Dubai to see his son achieve his career highlight.
Fleetwood Junior has credited his family and people off the course with helping him turn it around in the last 18 months, although his dad says he’s done very little.
“We text each other every night, ‘what did I do wrong, what did I do here’, but apart from that I’ve done nothing, I haven’t been here all week,” said Fleetwood Snr.
“Everything’s changed for him. 18 months ago he basically couldn’t hit a golf ball, couldn’t hit a fairway. He went back to his coach (Alan Thompson) who he should never have left, got (his friend) Ian Finnis on the bag for him, he’s happy in his life off the course and it’s gone from there really. It’s not one particular thing, his life’s just more relaxed, better.
“He’s just down to earth. He likes a laugh, he’s a good lad, everyone likes him and he’s really popular. Next thing will be the world’s top 10 and then we’ll see how far he can go.”
