Tommy Fleetwood’s outstanding reference to Abu Dhabi exhibits no indicators of fading, because the Englishman produced one other glowing spherical on Friday.
Fleetwood, a two-time winner of the occasion, continued his superb kind with a six-under-par 66, retaining himself firmly in competition heading into the weekend. The 34-year-old obtained off to a blistering begin with three consecutive birdies and by no means regarded again.
“It was a very good day,” Fleetwood mentioned afterward. “I obtained off to the right begin — birdie, birdie, birdie — and that’s all the time vital, particularly after a very good around the day earlier than. They are saying it’s laborious to observe a low one with one other, so beginning robust actually helped.”
Fleetwood credited his sharp quick recreation and good course administration for sustaining momentum, significantly when confronted with tough lies within the tough. “We learn the lies rather well,” he defined. “Controlling the ball out of the tough was actually pleasing, and I putted strong once more. Six-under was an excellent rating.”
Regardless of his composed play, Fleetwood dismissed any notion that he’s on “autopilot.”
“In no way,” he mentioned. “This course nonetheless exams you. Scores have been low, and if you wish to be up there on Sunday, it’s a must to be relentless — preserve hitting good photographs, preserve scoring. I’m doing numerous issues properly, however I understand how rapidly the sport can flip. I’ll simply keep centered and preserve doing the correct issues.”
Fleetwood, who’s ending one other lengthy season, believes his present kind is a product of studying from the sport’s greatest.
“In my early years on tour, I’d attain these late-season occasions feeling drained and dissatisfied,” he mentioned. “I observed the highest gamers had been nonetheless competing laborious, nonetheless motivated proper to the top. That’s what I needed to emulate.”
Now, with only a handful of rounds left within the 12 months, Fleetwood stays pushed. “I’m nonetheless actually motivated,” he added. “I wish to play properly and end robust. Hopefully I can put one other good spherical collectively tomorrow, compete on Sunday, and carry that into subsequent week earlier than switching off for a well-earned break.”
Fleetwood’s willpower — and his ongoing love affair with Abu Dhabi — suggests he’ll be a significant factor as soon as once more because the championship heads into the decisive weekend.
