Fleetwood Would Rather Memphis Meltdown Conditions Than Wales Windblast

2 years ago by Comments Off on Fleetwood Would Rather Memphis Meltdown Conditions Than Wales Windblast

Tommy Fleetwood has again put himself in position for a long overdue maiden PGA Tour title superbly handling the meltdown Memphis conditions to post a 66 on day two of the FedEx St. Jude Championship.

Fleetwood managed six birdies, including three in succession from the second to fourth holes though undid a little of his great work with two bogeys and one of those at the last.

Indeed, the temperatures were nudging the high 90s with a strong humidity and leaving players, caddies and spectators alike dripping in perspiration, and if there was a round of golf where players should have been allowed to wear shorts it was today.

According to the PGA Tour’s meteorologist, the high temperature on day two of the opening Play-Off Series event was 94 degrees which was a heat index of 110 degrees, which is a record this season.

The extreme heat resulted in Eric Larson, who caddies for Harris English, needing to seek medical attention.

“[Larson] bent down to tie his shoe on the 11th hole [the second hole] and he kind of stood up like he was about to go down. I told him to take a knee,” English said. “I grew up in south Georgia and this is the hottest, muggiest day I’ve ever had on the golf course.”

Of course, Fleetwood is used to the heat as he’s now based in Dubai so he knows what serious heat is all about.

“Well, in Dubai, we’re about to fly back to Dubai in a week or two weeks, and that will be in the 50s, so yeah, I’ll be out in it,” he said.

“It’s better out there today than playing in 50 mile-an-hour winds at Royal Porthcawl like they had recently for the Seniors Open. It’s easier than that.

“Obviously the disadvantage is just how sweaty it is, how slippery your hands can be and the grips and everything, and clearly energy levels. You’ve really got to focus on that and make sure you’re drinking enough and sort of don’t get ahead of yourself on the golf course.

“So, it was hot out there today and, clearly, like conditions bring their own challenge physically.

“It’s very, very hot. Having said that, when we teed off and for the majority of the round early on, it was very calm. It was warm. If you can put it in the fairway, we’re playing preferred lies, so it was great conditions to actually score.

“Got tougher when the wind came and the wind started swirling a little bit, but overall, yeah, it was just a day where you just keep plodding along. I wasn’t doing anything particularly fast, just keep going and try and stay in rhythm and keep hitting shots.”

The heat drained also drained the patience of plenty of players including overnight leader Jordan Spieth, who showed his frustration at one hole in kicking his driver after a poor tee shot in adding a two-under 68 but drop into second at nine-under, while Spaniard Jon Rahm was fighting a few demons in his round of 67 to be just outside the leading 50 heading into the weekend rounds.

No such concern for the Fleetwood with the affable Englishman, and contesting his 124th PGA Tour sanctioned event, heading after his round to the air conditioned comfort of the TPC Southwind course at eight-under par and just two shots behind 36-hole leaded Lucas Glover, and with the highpoint of the winner of last week’s Wyndham Championship second day’s play, being in holing a 32-foot eagle ‘2’ putt at the par-5 16th Glover was playing as his seventh.

In pointing out how many PGA Tour events Fleetwood has done everything but win, having had five second-place finishes, three thirds, 21 top-fives and 31 top-10s.

What is really remarkable is that Fleetwood, since joining the PGA Tour in 2018, has banked PGA Tour prize-money of $18,985,523.

As well, Fleetwood is returning to competition after his superb T10th finish at the 151st Open Championship, and an effort that brought much delight not only to the now 32-year-old Englishman but a huge following of fans who braved the awful weekend conditions ot cheer-on the long-haired Southport-born golfer.

His Hoylake showing was a third top-10 finish for Fleetwood in his past four showings in golf’s oldest major while he also secured a T5th result at the US Open and that was a third top-10 in that major.

It’s not yet confirmed but Fleetwood is certain to be heading to Rome later next month and what will be his third Ryder Cup, so his show of strength these past few months will surely bring comfort to European team captain, Luke Donald.

 



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