Tommy Fleetwood has an unbelievable alternative on his arms.
He’ll start the ultimate spherical of the Olympics one shot off the tempo at 13-under, enjoying alongside Jon Rahm and Xander Schauffele, who share the 54-hole lead. Fleetwood, Rahm, and Schauffele will go off within the ultimate group collectively, that means the Englishman may have the gold medal—and the lead—effectively inside his sights all day.
“I’m very, very excited to play. You have a look at the leaderboard, the leaderboard is superb,” Fleetwood mentioned.
“It’s like a leaderboard that you’d count on on the Olympics and doubtless what the game deserves. I’m glad to be part of it and have been doing very effectively up to now. So we’ll see. I’m simply wanting ahead to [Sunday].”
Ought to Fleetwood go on to win the gold, it could mark the most important win of his profession. He has come agonizingly shut in majors, recording seven top-5 finishes since 2018. He additionally has 5 runner-up finishes on the PGA Tour, most notably finally yr’s RBC Canadian Open, the place he witnessed Nick Taylor’s thrilling 72-foot make first-hand.
So a gold medal would undoubtedly shake off these demons and convey Fleetwood—and his hometown of Southport, England—super pleasure, particularly contemplating the tragedy that befell within the Merseyside city on Jul. 29.
However Fleetwood has acquired overwhelming assist in France this week, main different gamers to ask him, “Is that this your own home nation?”
“They’ve been superb with me, and it’s undoubtedly a distinct crowd to what we’re used to. It’s undoubtedly an Olympic crowd, and the environment has been superb,” Fleetwood mentioned.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25558255/2164632504.jpg)
“I all the time think about myself very fortunate with the assist, I assume, connections with folks that I make. However these have been nice, and completely, to be enjoying the Olympics, to be in rivalry, and to have the assist that you’ve got, I imply, they’re issues that you simply dream of; in the event you don’t get pleasure from this, then what’s the purpose?”
The crowds serenaded Fleetwood on seemingly each tee field and each inexperienced, leaving the Englishman feeling fairly comfy at Le Golf Nationwide, the course the place he received 4 factors through the 2018 Ryder Cup. And but, Fleetwood has felt something however comfy this week. He has mentioned his swing is a large number, which the world noticed at The Open at Royal Troon, the place he badly missed the reduce.
“Once more, my swing isn’t flowing. It’s not the place I would love it to be, however I’ve managed it so effectively all week,” Fleetwood mentioned.
“I did the identical once more right now, actually. I didn’t actually hit it in any horrible spots. I made one bogey, which is a good effort round right here. I do know there are nice scores, and clearly, when individuals play effectively, they may shoot good scores.”
Fleetwood managed to shoot a 2-under 69, however crucial second of his spherical got here on the very finish, when he made a superb par-save on the 18th—probably the most difficult gap on the course.
The Englishman missed the green proper, laid up in need of the water within the fairway, after which obtained up and down from 69 yards to avoid wasting his par and maintain his sub-70 spherical intact.
“A stunning feeling,” Fleetwood mentioned of his closing par.
“Clearly, making bogey on the final isn’t good. It’s a tricky gap. Nevertheless it’s a tremendous feeling while you scrape a par like that. It retains me type of simply behind the leaders. As shut as I can tomorrow, the higher, actually. Yeah, it’s a stunning feeling.”
However a gold medal would really feel even higher, and it’s effectively inside his grasp.
Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By means of. You should definitely try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as effectively.
