Tommy Fleetwood, hailing from England, finds himself facing a formidable challenge in the final pairing, alongside the American golfer Brian Harman. Heading into the second round on Friday, Fleetwood held a share of the lead at 5-under par. Despite posting an even-par 71 for the day, he now trails Harman by five shots, with the American sitting comfortably at 10-under for the championship, courtesy of his impressive 6-under 65 on Friday morning.
However, Fleetwood’s clutch par save on the 18th hole secured him a place beside Harman in Saturday’s final pairing, much to the delight of the hometown English crowd. Without that crucial par, Austrian Sepp Straka would have been the one joining Harman due to finishing ahead of Fleetwood earlier in the day. The passionate support of the English fans has been a driving force for Fleetwood, who expressed his gratitude for their unwavering encouragement.
Hailing from the nearby town of Southport, just 30 miles north of Royal Liverpool, Fleetwood is set to enter Saturday’s round with overwhelming support, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of the electrifying Ryder Cup showdown between America and Europe. Adding to the intrigue is the underdog status of Fleetwood, as Harman maintains a commanding lead. Team Europe often thrives in such scenarios during the Ryder Cup, and Fleetwood will seek to channel that spirit.
Moreover, the weather forecast for Saturday predicts gusty winds and rain, conditions that typically favor European players. Fleetwood already had to contend with the challenging wind during his round on Friday afternoon as Royal Liverpool Golf Club grew more demanding. Despite the test, he acknowledged that he played well for the majority of his round and was satisfied with his level-par performance.
With only 47 players out of the 156-person field managing to shoot even par or better on Friday, the difficulty of Royal Liverpool’s course was evident. Harman’s bogey-free round stood out even more, highlighted by a strong display of birdies on the front nine and crucial par saves to secure his lead. His eagle on the 18th hole brought him to 10-under, and Fleetwood acknowledged Harman’s impressive play over the first two rounds.
As unpredictable as the English weather can be, there is no doubt that the patrons in attendance on Saturday afternoon will wholeheartedly support Fleetwood, turning the Fleetwood-Harman pairing into a thrilling preview of what the Ryder Cup has to offer. Regardless of the outcome, it promises to be an exciting day of golf at Hoylake.
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