Tommy Fleetwood, born and bred in Southport, began the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale with an opening-round 69, one under par, featuring two bogeys and three birdies. He described the round as a "battle," noting that "it wasn't that easy out there. There's not really loads of birdie opportunities. One under is a good start to the week." This performance is a significant improvement from his first-round six-over in the 2017 Open at the same course.
Fleetwood's Childhood Memories of Birkdale
Fleetwood's connection to Royal Birkdale dates back to his childhood, when he sneaked onto the course by cutting south along the beach from Southport, past the posh houses, and hopping the fence along the back of the 5th fairway. "I did it once or twice," he admitted with a blush. "It wasn't like every day." He learned golf at Southport Municipal and later gained membership at Formby Hall, three miles from Birkdale. "Royal Birkdale was always kind of hallowed turf for people that lived in Southport," he said.
Local Hero and Fan Favorite
Fleetwood is widely regarded as one of the nicest guys in golf, and local support is strong. He attended Scarisbrick Hall school and established a kids' academy at Formby Hall, his home club, where tuition costs £75 for six weeks. The academy is designed for children from families who cannot afford the high fees at Birkdale. During his round, fans gathered near the 5th tee, where he used to sneak on, cheering him on with shouts of "Go on Tommy lad!" Fleetwood acknowledged the support: "Honestly, the support today was a massive lift for me, especially like around that turn where I scrambled really well. I felt like the crowd really helped me. They definitely sort of carried me a little bit through."
Playing Partners and Spieth's Struggles
Fleetwood played alongside Jon Rahm, also one under par, and Jordan Spieth, who is far behind after a difficult round. Spieth won the 2017 Open at Birkdale but has since struggled to regain form. Notably, the 14th hole where he scored a hole-in-one during that victory has been redesigned, altering the course's layout.
