Tommy Fleetwood’s love of dogs is well known.

In capturing a maiden European Tour event in 2013 Fleetwood singled out his ailing dog, Maisie after he birdied the first extra play-off hole to claim a maiden Tour victory in the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles.

Now ahead of teeing-up in this week’s Aberdeen Standand Investments Scottish Open the now former European No. 1 and hero at the 2018 Ryder Cup has spoken of continuing to tee-up since the return to golf without spectators and the ‘odd dog’.

“I just love playing in front of Scottish fans, because they are such good fans, they know exactly what they are doing. They will be missed,” said Fleetwood rugged-up wearning a beanie and four layers of clothing.

Tommy Fleetwood and his dog, Maisie in winning the 2013 Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles. Picture Stuart Adams www.golftourimages.com

“Me personally, I’ll miss the odd dog roaming around on the golf course.”

And that answer prompted a question of his memories of Gleneagles and a first Tour win back in 2013.

“Yeah, Maisie was very special,” he said.

“I actually got asked about it a couple of times. I think it was like two Nike calls to like ambassadors or friends, whatever you call it, and Robin, he asked me about that time, and I was like, I can’t believe it. Yeah, fond memories, Scotland, the country, the golf course, always looked fondly upon me for whatever reason that.

“So, I’ve always loved coming to Scotland and played. Had some great experiences. That was one of them. That was great,”

And there is another Scottish feel good reason Fleetwood revealed he enjoyed and that was at close-by Archerfield Links.

“I was thinking of it while I was traveling over actually, was that one of the — just at Archerfield, a match-play event and I got beat by Graeme Storm in the first round,” said Fleetwood.

“I actually look at that as the turning point when I started coming out of my slump that was for like a year that was well documented. I actually lost that match but I played and drove home and thought, I haven’t played like that for a year. I didn’t miss a shot.

“So, Archerfield was a turning point where I got things going on again, and that’s a nice little positive and nice memory coming here, which is one people probably wouldn’t think about a lot.”