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2021 Ryder Cup: Power ranking the top 10 players at Whistling Straits

By Mike Randleman

Ryder Cup mugs which have a list price of $12 at the Ryder Cup Shops at Whistling Straits near Haven, Wis.Mjs She Ryder Cup Shops 26
Ryder Cup mugs which have a list price of $12 at the Ryder Cup Shops at Whistling Straits near Haven, Wis.Mjs She Ryder Cup Shops 26 /
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Aug 5, 2021; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Tommy Fleetwood watches his tee shot on the 18th hole during the first round of the WGC FedEx St. Jude Invitational golf tournament at TPC Southwind. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 5, 2021; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Tommy Fleetwood watches his tee shot on the 18th hole during the first round of the WGC FedEx St. Jude Invitational golf tournament at TPC Southwind. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

If the European team is going to continue its success in the Ryder Cup, Tommy Fleetwood is one of the guys who will have to continue to lead.

It’d be a lot to ask the Englishman to replicate the 4-0 record he and Francesco Molinari had together in Paris in 2018, but he’ll be looked upon to earn multiple points.

Fleetwood hasn’t won worldwide since November 2019 at the Nedbank Challenge on the European Tour. He struggled by his standards in 2020.

Fleetwood showed signs of life early in 2021 with a nice Middle Eastern stretch on the European Tour to run to the WGC-Match Play quarterfinals.

Currently, the 30-year-old is on a streak of eight made cuts. Fleetwood posted T-2nd at the Italian Open and T-12th at the BMW PGA Championship, both premier events on the European Tour.

Fleetwood missed the cut at the 2015 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits. He was more of an up-and-comer at the time. Six years later and with Ryder Cup experience in tow, I envision him making more dagger like birdies.

His ballstriking numbers were down last season. We know Fleetwood can flush it when things are clicking. He did finish 22nd on the PGA Tour in strokes gained around the green (.292). A nifty short game is always useful in the Ryder Cup.

He’s also reasonably long off the tee (56th, 300.8) and shouldn’t be backed down by the brute of a course that Whistling Straits is.

It was a relatively disappointing 2021 for Fleetwood, but he can salvage it with a good week in Wisconsin.

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