Instanbul, Turkey …
In a big career move current European No. 1 Tommy Fleetwood will take-up his option of PGA Tour membership from the start of the New Year.
Fleetwood, 26 earned enough prize-money from his 10 appearances in PGA Tour counting events in 2017, including second in the WGC – Mexico Championship and fourth at the U.S. Open to end the PGA year inside the top-125 on the money list.
What have I got to lose? ‘s moving to the PGA Tour from the New Year. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
It mean the affable Englishman qualified for membership of the recently commenced 2017/18 PGA Tour wraparound season.
“I played a lot in the States this year and I enjoyed it and it did improve me as a golfer as you’ve seen by my results this year,” he said.
“As a result, my World Ranking improved and I presently leading the European Tour Race to Dubai, so I want to continue to get better and start winning Majors and WGC titles.
“So, as the majority of the Majors and WGCs are over in America I would like to play more over there and that is my reasoning in taking-up my PGA Tour card and become a world golfer.”
Fleetwood will commit to the 2018 European Tour ‘Desert Swing’ next January before crossing The Altantic to embark on this new chapter in his career.
However, at this stage Fleetwood has not worked out a PGA Tour schedule though it will be earlier than March it was three months into 2017 before he competed in a first regular PGA Tour event that being sharing 10th place in the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
“At this stage, I don’t have the luxury of knowing what American golf courses on the early part of the New Year will suit me, but I just want to play on the PGA Tour and I want to test my game,” he said.
“So, going over to the States will do that.
“I don’t have a base as such but then I do have friends living in Orlando and that is only one flight away from the U.K.”
Fleetwood’s immediate priority is to wrap-up the Race to Dubia and with two events remaining he enjoys a Euro 134,838 lead over compatriot Justin Rose, and with Rose storming into contestion for a second No. 1 crown in a decade after back-to-back Tour victories.
Rose, however, has not entered this week’s Nedbank Challenge in South Africa presenting Fleetwood with the opportunity to again increase his lead and with Rose happy to stake his claim for the No. 1 title on next week’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
“It’s good stuff and it’s great golf that Justin has won the last two to make it an exciting finish to the Race to Dubai,” said Fleetwood.
“I’ve had my bright patches in the year and everybody out here has their own bright spots in a season so now it’s Justin.
“But then I am not worried and it was what it is and at the end of day I have these two events remaining, and at the end of the day nothing is ever going to get given to you.
“And as much as I like Justin, I won’t be too disappointed he won’t be playing this week in South Africa (smiling).
“Yes, it is a good chance for me and given there is no cut, wherever I finish is going to be a gain but then the goal is to play well and take that form to Dubai.”
