Hotshot England golfer Tommy Fleetwood is looking to secure more recognition for more than his unruly locks with victory in the BMW PGA Championship.
Fleetwood, 24 brought the famed ‘Burma Road’ course to its knees with a sizzling 65 that included a career first albatross along with an eagle and three birdies.
It left the Southport-born pro, who captured the 2013 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles, trailing just three shots behind the leading duo Italy’s Francesco Molinari (68) and the 132nd World Ranked Byeong Hum An (67) tied atop on 14-under par.
Tommy Fleetwood and his long hair getting more recognition than his golf game he says.
Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee (68) is third at 12-under par with Fleetwood fourth and looking more like a rock star than one of Europe’s golfing starlets.
At Wentworth’s par five, fourth hole Fleetwood holed his 198-yard 7-iron second shot for just the third albatross in BMW PGA history.
Then at the par five 12th hole the 2009 Scottish Amateur Stroke-Play Champion at Murcar also used a 7-iron in holing his third shot for eagle
It was at Gleneagles two years ago when Fleetwood stepped onto the international stage defeating home town hero Stephen Gallacher and Argentina’s Ricardo Gonzalez in a play-off to capture the Johnnie Walker Championship.
And it was an emotional occasion for Fleetwood photographed holding the trophy with his beloved 14-year old dog, Maisy by his side.
Tommy Fleetwood and his manager Clare in the background behind the 24-year old England golf star.
Maisy, who had been present when Fleetwood had finished runner-up in the 2008 British Amateur at Turnberry, was known to only have weeks to live and in fact was put down a short time later.
Fleetwood’s had some superb results since climbing to the top in the Scottish Highlands including three seconds last season and a best of third earlier this year in China to now be riding high at No. 54 in the world and facing his first U.S. Open next month.
“To be in contention now for one of the top European titles is massive for me as there has been so many great players who have won here, and it’s one trophy you want sitting on your mantel piece by the end of your career,” he said.
“And after winning at Gleneagles I’ve since had a lot of top-five’s, some good top-three’s but then others have played better than me.
“It’s just such a fine line in finishing second or third, and if those had of been wins I would be higher up the World Rankings and things would be a lot different.
“You want to win and you want to be remembered for winning, and that’s what it is all about.
“But in saying that I’ve also got a lot more hair (smiling) and it’s the only way people recognize me.”
