When you imagine a professional golfer, you might think of someone who is dedicated, amiable to a tee, who roams the course with elegance and never loses their cool. That person is Tommy Fleetwood. The Englishman will be back at Club de Campo Villa de Madrid to play the ACCIONA Open de España presented by Madrid for the second time in his career.
His return to the Spanish capital could not come at a better time. Fleetwood recently won the silver medal at the Olympic Games in Paris, finishing just one shot shy of gold. The 14th hole at Le Golf National, which also led to the downfall of Spain’s Jon Rahm, derailed the Englishman’s campaign to top the podium.
Despite coming so close to glory, the interview shown by Sky Sports immediately after receiving his silver medal perfectly sums up Tommy Fleetwood: “There’s a slight disappointment there, but I never dreamt I could be an Olympic medallist. I will hold this very dear, forever”. With an ear-to-ear smile the star thanked his wife and son for their unconditional support. Tommy is a rare example of a man whose humility and affability off the course match his professionalism and class inside the ropes.
His stunning CV includes seven wins on the DP World Tour, three participations in the Ryder Cup, where he was one of the star players in 2018 winning all four of his matches alongside Francesco Molinari, and eight Top-10 finishes in majors. In January he saw off none other than Rory McIlroy at the Dubai Invitational, holing two downhill putts on the last two greens to steal victory and prove wrong those who have accused him of withering under the gun.
Tommy enjoyed a relatively bright season in the majors, where his T3 finish at Augusta was the cream of the crop, followed by solid performances at the PGA Championship (T26) and the US Open (T16). His only blemish came at The Open at Royal Troon, where he failed to make the cut.
In his first appearance in Madrid in 2022, Rahm blew away the field with a course record performance and Fleetwood never really had a look in. Despite not having his best week, he broke par in all four rounds. The flat stick proved to be his stumbling block; the Englishman struggled to read Club de Campo’s greens. However, now he has some experience in the bank, Tommy will surely now be one to watch. He proved it in Paris; the course on which he won his silver medal (Le Golf National) also provided the stage for his 2018 demolition of Team USA and the Ryder Cup.
Among one of the strongest fields in the tournament’s history Fleetwood will be one of the biggest draws. If you are planning to make it to Club de Campo Villa de Madrid from 26 to 29 September, be sure to follow the Briton for a few holes and witness a true gentleman ply his trade with your own eyes.
