The shouts of “Tommy” strengthened with each step, one giving delivery to dozens extra, rising in quantity to extend the probabilities of grabbing his consideration.
Some made positive to enthusiastically supply their congratulations, celebrating Tommy Fleetwood's current and long-awaited first PGA Tour win just like the delivery of a kid.
Row after row of Individuals, younger and outdated, stood behind the ropes, clad in stars and stripes, crimson, white and blue, cheering the Englishman, as if he have been raised off Spherical Swamp Highway.
“Why do folks like me a lot?” stated Fleetwood, repeating the query he was requested after profitable the Tour Championship final month. “I've at all times been very fortunate that I make an incredible reference to folks. If I may give my youngsters one piece of recommendation, there's tons of recommendation, however I at all times inform them to be a great individual first, and I've at all times tried to try this. My dad at all times instructed me that, even once I was a younger, aspiring novice golfer, skilled golfer, he at all times stated individual first, golfer second. You're a great individual first. I've at all times tried to be that.”
He sounds just like the narrator of a fairy story, his voice imbued with heat. Drop the accent and he'd seem at house wherever he stands, full of humor, allure and charm. “Fairway Jesus” is a product of municipal golf, the affable stranger you'd be glad to have be part of you at Bethpage Black, Inexperienced or Blue.
For thus a few years, Fleetwood was additionally one in all golf's most sympathetic figures. He was a runner-up in six PGA Tour occasions and a 30-time prime 5 finisher, who received seven DP World Tour titles, however was outlined by his 163 swings and misses within the States.
At June's Vacationers Championship, Fleetwood completed second — behind U.S. captain Keegan Bradley — after bogeying the ultimate gap.
In early August, the 34-year-old blew a two-shot lead with three holes to play. Two weeks later, Fleetwood triumphed at Atlanta's East Lake Golf Membership, the place he earned the FedEx Cup and picked up $10 million.
The limitless requests for autographs and pictures at Bethpage Black confirmed nothing else has modified.
“Everyone was wonderful,” Fleetwood stated Wednesday. “To have interaction with them right here is basically essential. It's nice. It's nice to take in that environment, whether or not it's house or away. I liked interacting with them. I liked signing stuff, seeing the youngsters and all of that. I believed that was nice.”
Since 2018, Fleetwood has produced probably the most factors of any European participant within the Ryder Cup. On the 2018 occasion in France, Fleetwood received all 4 of his matches throughout Europe's victory. On the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome, he captured the profitable level.
Fleetwood, who's 7-3-2 in three Ryder Cup appearances, is on the peak of his powers, among the many greatest the reason why Europe may grow to be the primary away staff to say victory since 2012.
And are available Friday, the fan favourite is aware of he'll discover little love.
“Look, the form of job of the house crowd is to help the house staff. You wouldn't maintain something towards anyone in that means,” Fleetwood stated. “However I do say that the house crowd is an enormous a part of what makes the Ryder Cup so particular, so distinctive to us. As people, you clearly don't get to play in entrance of a house or staff environment. It's at all times form of crowd supporting people. However I feel that power, that keenness and that house staff setting is one thing that performs such an enormous half within the Ryder Cup, and I feel you must embrace that, take pleasure in it, and look ahead to it, even once you're the away staff. It's the largest showcase of the game that we get.”
When Fleetwood leaves Bethpage, the followers will return.
Till then, nationality trumps character.
“When it's time to play, I've at all times felt like I actually simply wish to deal with my recreation, deal with every shot, attempt to get into my bubble as a lot as doable,” Fleetwood stated. “That's no totally different within the Ryder Cup. It's simply an excessive environment.”
