He has been knocking on the door for so long.
Tommy Fleetwood has been the nearly-man at majors for a number of years, but heading into this week’s US Open, that burden could finally be off his chest for several reasons.
The venue, Shinnecock Hills, is a golf course the Englishman has a great history with, recording one of the best final rounds there in 2018.
Starting the day in 23rd, Fleetwood shot an incredible 63 on a fielding average of 72, and missed an eight-foot putt on 18 in what would have been the first 62 in the history of America’s national championship, eventually coming home in second place.
This week could be Fleetwood’s time to end his major curse
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Recalling the moment, Fleetwood told The Telegraph: “That approach to the 18th was one of the best shots I ever hit in one of the best rounds in my life.
“I say that only in hindsight, because it’s weird but, at the time, when you are having a round like that, nothing feels out of your reach and you don’t feel like you’re doing anything ridiculously special.
“I remember coming in and feeling like if I’d have held that putt, I’d have won. But because I missed it, I felt like I was going to be one short.
“You have that sense of what the number will be, but you just pray that you are wrong.”
Fleetwood finished second in the US Open in 2018
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What has always been looming over the Englishman’s head is not winning on the PGA Tour, but he put that to bed last year, winning the FedExCup.
That pressure of finally getting one over the line seems to have eased now for the 35-year-old.
He claimed the Indian Open and went to a play-off in Abu Dhabi not long after.
At majors, the closest he has come is second, as mentioned in 2018 and at The Open Championship in 2019.
The Englishman won the FedEx Cup last year
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His fellow countryman, Aaron Rai, won his first major at the PGA Championship last month, and his good friend Rory McIlroy secured his second green jacket earlier in the year.
It has been British success so far in the world of golf, which is something Fleetwood can draw from for this week.
He said: “It was amazing to see Aaron win and to see the way he played and to see him come through the field like that on Sunday.
“A lot of hard work, pay-off and stuff like that. It meant something to me, though, because I really like him and admire him, and it reminded me that any given week could be your week. It gave me more conviction with my beliefs.
Fleetwood can draw inspiration from Rai’s success last month
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“People say that you must be one of the next guys to win a major, but it doesn’t mean anything until you do it. I’ve thought that my whole career, and I said last year that while I had a really good year with the FedEx and everything, I was disappointed with my major performances.
“I wanted to do better in the majors this year, but plainly I haven’t. I sort of contended at Augusta and played okay when missing the cut at Aronimink [in the PGA], but I was expecting more.
“At least I now have two majors on courses that are special to me for different reasons.”
Fleetwood tees off with McIlroy and Sweden’s Ludwig Aberg on Thursday, in pursuit of getting that first major title under his belt.
