Tommy Fleetwood feels The Open should be at Royal Birkdale more often
By Keith Jackson at Royal Birkdale
Last Updated: 22/07/17 2:50pm
Tommy Fleetwood called for The Open to be played at Royal Birkdale more often as the Southport links attracts the "best crowds".
Fleetwood paid tribute to the vast galleries who poured through the gates as Friday's wind and rain gave way to bright sunshine and far warmer conditions for the third round, and the local hero enjoyed his best round of the week.
The 26-year-old, playing in the second group of the day with Justin Rose having made the cut in The Open for the first time, fired a four-under 66 with an eagle, four birdies and two bogeys to close on one over for the week.
"I'm not just saying it because I'm from Southport, but The Open should be here more than every nine or 10 years," said Fleetwood, who was one of only eight players to break par in Friday's tough conditions.
"It's not just because they're mine, not just because they are the home crowd, but they are the best crowds. You get so many, and I think it's been the biggest selling Open ever. And the course, I think this is one of the best tracks in the world. If I had a say, I'd definitely have it more at Birkdale."
The world No 14 has enjoyed a huge following all week, even in the worst of the weather on Friday, and he was delighted to scrape into the weekend after making a clutch up-and-down for par in the gloom on the 18th.
"It would have been pretty rubbish staying home for the weekend," Fleetwood added. "It's my first cut I've made in The Open in four attempts. There were a lot of people, sort of walking around last night when there shouldn't have been, it was pitch black and cold and wet.
"So obviously, this is an experience that you don't get every week. It's been amazing playing in front of everybody and having the support. Getting clapped on to every green and every tee and people that you know, so having four days of it is a lot better than two.
"We had perfect conditions when we went out, and there are some cracking pins - I think the course setup was brilliant. It would have been nice to get back to level and feel like you're putting the pressure on tomorrow. But just to get a score going under par and shoot 66 is lovely."
Rose, who birdied two of the last four holes to post a 69, was also impressed with the size of the galleries and compared the atmosphere to a Ryder Cup.
"It was brilliant being out there with Tommy, who's obviously a local hero. Big crowds for the first and second group out, and the place was packed from the word go. Even looking down the first hole it was four or five deep. I don't think I've played in crowds that deep since the Ryder Cup. So really good fun."
