Tommy Fleetwood notches 2nd 2017 win at Open de France
Tommy Fleetwood’s Open de France victory moves him into the category of European Tour elite players.
Tommy Fleetwood was always a favorite to claim the Open de France victory. He was coming in hot after great play at the U.S. Open and then the BMW International Open last week.
Fleetwood started Sunday’s final round at the European Tour‘s Open de France trailing third round leaders Peter Uihlein and Alexander Björk by one stroke. He wasted no time closing the gap and then moving beyond it.
Fleetwood’s tee shot on the par-3 second came within inches of an ace. Birdie brought him even with Uihlein and Björk, who almost simultaneously relinquished his share of the lead with a three-putt on the first.
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Another birdie on the par-5 third gave Fleetwood the solo lead, temporarily. Björk recovered from his shaky start with birdies on the fifth and seventh but Fleetwood pulled ahead again with birdie on the ninth.
Uihlein threatened briefly after the turn but Fleetwood was a man whose clubs were on fire. On the back nine he increased his lead to two, and then three.
His final bogey-free 66 brought Tommy Fleetwood to 12-under par and his second 2017 European Tour win. He was effusive in victory.
"Today, it’s a day that I’ll never forget. The way I felt coming down the stretch, the holes and the shots you have to hit. Winning, it’s the best feeling by far in golf and to do it on this golf course in this event, a Rolex Series event, just massive, massive bonuses."
The Open de France victory moves Fleetwood into the upper tier of the European Tour.
If the World Rankings were based purely on 2017, @TommyFleetwood1 would be ranked second. pic.twitter.com/UwHOuhK9i8
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) July 2, 2017
In addition to his win at the HSBC Abu Dhabi Championship Fleetwood has recorded top five finishes at the WGC – Mexico Championship and U.S. Open Championship. He has surpassed the European Tour’s only other multiple 2017 champion, Sergio Garcia in the European Tour Race to Dubai rankings and moved into the top 20 in the OWGR.
All is not lost for Uihlein and Björk, and local favorite Mike Lorenzo-Vera. With their finishes they got their tickets punched to Royal Birkdale, a very nice consolation prize.
Not a bad consolation...
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) July 2, 2017
Uihlein, Björk and Lorenzo-Vera book their spots at Royal Birkdale.
📝 https://t.co/akIZraSjVA pic.twitter.com/f2A9GM8Piw
We’ll next see Tommy Fleetwood at Royal Birkdale, July 20-23 for the 173rd Open Championship. Is the 26-year old Englishman from Southport ready to challenge Dustin Johnson? Many will be expecting much from him.