The 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale enters its final day on Sunday with local favourite Tommy Fleetwood carrying the hopes of Merseyside. The 35-year-old Southport native produced a third round of 69 to remain in contention, though he faces a challenge to clinch his first Open. Fleetwood started strongly with birdies on the front nine and another on the 11th, but bogeys on the 15th and 18th left him with work to do.
Fans Rally Behind Hometown Hero
Fans from across the world have gathered at Royal Birkdale, with many expressing support for Fleetwood. Patty Fay, 70, and Mike Fay, 63, from Florida, are on a golf cruise and backing fellow American Scottie Scheffler but have a soft spot for Fleetwood. Mike told the ECHO: "Tommy has become very beloved in the United States. He's a really good guy. A lot of it had to do with him coming so close to winning tournaments over there and then eventually he did. Even watching him on TV over the past few days, you can see how much people are rooting for him."
Local fans Teri Apps, 65, and Venu Singh, 59, from Formby, are also cheering for the hometown hero. Teri said: "He's one of our boys, he's a local lad and he's very down to earth. Everybody loves Tommy." Venu added: "We're always telling people this is the 'golf coast'. We've got so many courses, we are really lucky."
Tommy Fleetwood Mural and Community Support
Bradley Stubbs, 36, director of Scottsdale Golf, which is hosting a family-friendly event near Royal Birkdale, highlighted Fleetwood's humility. He said: "You might have seen on the front of the building we have a Tommy Fleetwood mural. He came down to see that and was taken aback. He's just such a loveable guy, so humble and down to earth. He's got time for everybody. If he won, it would make our week. It's history for this area, Tommy Fleetwood all day. I think it'll be chaos in a really good way. Let's go Tommy."
Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau Controversy
While Fleetwood fought to keep his Open dreams alive, Rory McIlroy took aim at Bryson DeChambeau after the American disputed a two-shot penalty for inadvertently improving his swing line on the fifth hole. DeChambeau delayed confirming his participation until after midnight. McIlroy said: "I won't pretend to be up here and defend Bryson. I'm not particularly fond of him. I think a lot of it's performative. To hold the tournament hostage like that and to have all of us, players, volunteers, everyone, waiting on him to depart, I didn't feel like it was a great look."
Course Record Equalled
New Zealander Ryan Fox wrote his name into The Open history books by equalling the course record of 62, recording nine birdies. He admitted: "I would have taken 62 on a Saturday, that's for sure. Hopefully I can find something similar in the final round."
The 154th Open concludes on Sunday, with Fleetwood aiming to become the first English winner since 1992 and the first from Southport to lift the Claret Jug.
