Tommy Fleetwood has vowed to keep chasing his Open dream after a week he described as 'the most special ever' at Royal Birkdale, despite falling short of victory. The Englishman finished seven-under par, five shots behind runaway leader Sam Burns, after a final round of 68 that included a dramatic collapse on the back nine.
Final round drama at Royal Birkdale
Fleetwood, the hometown favourite, started the final round five shots off the lead and got off to a perfect start with a 73-foot birdie putt on the first hole that sent the Birkdale crowd wild. He then added birdies on the fifth and eighth holes to move within one shot of the lead, sparking hopes of a historic win. However, a disastrous stretch on the back nine saw him bogey the ninth, 10th, and 11th holes, effectively ending his chances of becoming the first Englishman to win the Claret Jug since Nick Faldo in 1992.
Fleetwood's emotional reflection
Speaking after his round, Fleetwood said: 'Yeah, 18 was pretty emotional. It was just very, very special. This disappointment that I didn't win today or I couldn't get it done when I was in a really good position, of course, there's only one person that gets to win it, and like my dream of winning The Open will carry on and I'll continue to chase it.' He added that the atmosphere walking down the 18th fairway was 'beyond stuff that I've dreamt of' and thanked the crowds for making it 'the most special week ever'.
Turning point in the round
Fleetwood admitted that after reaching eight-under par, he believed his fairytale could come true. 'It was on. It was 8-under and stood in the middle of the 9th fairway, so I was in a great position really, and I was playing really well,' he said. 'Just 9, I hit it in the place that you can't hit it. It was gusty on that fairway. Over the back there, it was just a terrible mistake.' He also noted that the afternoon conditions were tough, with 'the spirit of this golf course' requiring players to take on challenges that can cost shots.
Memorable moments and crowd support
Fleetwood highlighted several key moments from the week, including his long putt on the first hole, nearly chipping in on the seventh, and holing a putt on the eighth. 'The crowd were amazing. The atmosphere was unbelievable, and we got ourselves right where we wanted to be. Of course then, like, the finish there,' he said. Despite the disappointment, Fleetwood remains determined to chase his Open dream, with his performance at Royal Birkdale proving he can compete at the highest level on home soil.
