Tommy Fleetwood set for very special hometown British Open with chance for first major win

SOUTHPORT, England — If you listen closely enough to the television broadcast of the British Open this week from Royal Birkdale, you’re going to hear more than a few, “Come on, Tommy lad,’’ chants.That’s because one of the favorites to hoist the Claret Jug this week is Tommy Fleetwood, who’s a hometown lad from these parts, born and raised in Southport, on the northwest coast of England, walking distance from Birkdale.There are images of the 35-year-old Fleetwood — the Son of Southport, who’s ranked No.9 in the world — everywhere around Birkdale, where he and his dad, Pete, were known to sneak onto the championship course back in the day — long before Tommy became one of the biggest names in the game.“Birkdale was always kind of hallowed turf for people that lived in Southport,’’ Fleetwood said Monday.Down the road from Birkdale is Formby Hall, where Fleetwood grew up playing and where his father is a member.

There’s a permanent parking spot in Tommy’s name and an annual junior competition at the club where the winner is called the “Tommy Fleetwood Champion.’’There, too, is a corner lounge of the club’s bar area called the “Tommy Fleetwood Lounge,’’ where many pints of local lager are consumed after rounds of golf.If Fleetwood was not playing in the Open this week, he might have a complaint or two about the tournament infringing on the property of his home club, Hillside, which happens to sit adjacent to Birkdale.The players practice ground for the tournament is actually on the practice area for Hillside, where Fleetwood has been a member since he turned pro.“It’s obviously very, very special,’’ Fleetwood said Monday.“It’s very rare to have an opportunity to play a tournament, let alone The Open, in the town where you grew up in front of fans that were all there to support you.

I still have lots of memories from the 2017 Open here.’’The last time the Open was played at Birkdale was nine years ago, in 20...