Tommy Fleetwood’s outstanding reference to Abu Dhabi reveals no indicators of fading, because the Englishman produced one other glowing spherical on Friday.
Fleetwood, a two-time winner of the occasion, continued his high-quality type with a six-under-par 66, holding himself firmly in rivalry 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 stated afterward. “I obtained off to the right begin — birdie, birdie, birdie — and that’s all the time vital, particularly after a great around the day earlier than. They are saying it’s onerous to comply with a low one with one other, so beginning sturdy actually helped.”
Fleetwood credited his sharp brief recreation and sensible course administration for sustaining momentum, significantly when confronted with difficult 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 stable once more. Six-under was an excellent rating.”
Regardless of his composed play, Fleetwood dismissed any notion that he’s on “autopilot.”
“By no means,” he stated. “This course nonetheless exams you. Scores have been low, and if you wish to be up there on Sunday, you must be relentless — preserve hitting good photographs, preserve scoring. I’m doing plenty of issues effectively, however I understand how shortly the sport can flip. I’ll simply keep targeted and preserve doing the proper issues.”
Fleetwood, who’s ending one other lengthy season, believes his present type 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 upset,” he stated. “I observed the highest gamers have been nonetheless competing onerous, nonetheless motivated proper to the tip. That’s what I needed to emulate.”
Now, with only a handful of rounds left within the yr, Fleetwood stays pushed. “I’m nonetheless actually motivated,” he added. “I wish to play effectively and end sturdy. 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 component as soon as once more because the championship heads into the decisive weekend.
