Tommy Fleetwood admits he was disappointed by one decision Luke Donald made at the Ryder Cup in 2023

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Luke Donald will be relying on Tommy Fleetwood to be a real talisman for the European Ryder Cup team at Bethpage Black later this month.

Fleetwood is a hugely popular figure in the game, on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, but he certainly won’t be cheered on by the fans during the Ryder Cup at Bethpage.

Donald would have drummed it into his players just how challenging the atmosphere will be in New York.

However, Fleetwood is the kind of character who has the unflappable nature needed to succeed in those kinds of environments.

Fleetwood’s form has been so impressive ahead of the Ryder Cup and there won’t be any American players relishing the prospect of facing him at Bethpage.

He was in great form heading into Rome two years ago as well, and ended up leaving the Italian capital with his hero status in Europe enhanced even further still.

Tommy Fleetwood says he was disappointed by Luke Donald’s decision at the Ryder Cup in 2023

While Fleetwood may not be the most outgoing and boisterous of characters, he is certainly someone who leads by example.

Donald will unquestionably be counting on him heavily at Bethpage Black later this month.

It would be no surprise to see the European Ryder Cup captain send out his fellow countryman in one of the final three singles games on the final day of the competition.

However, when speaking on the No Laying Up Podcast, the Englishman made it very clear that he wasn’t happy about being sent out 11th by captain Donald in 2023.

However, he admitted that it all worked out perfectly in the end.

Fleetwood said: “I played 11 at Whistling Straits and it just wasn’t a great spot to be in for that one because we struggled as a team, and then the Ryder Cup was sort of done early on in the singles.

“So for us being at the back, it was a bit deflating being at the back.

“So in the Saturday night in 2023, the singles draw hadn’t been done yet and I said to Claire, ‘I feel like I know where Luke is going to put me and I don’t really want to go there, I’ve just got this feeling that I’m going to go out back end at 11 again’. Because if we started off great, the Ryder Cup will be over and I won’t be that interested in my point.

“But then actually, it could come down to us and at that point, there’s a lot of pressure.“

Fair play to Fleetwood for wanting to be more involved in the pressurized situations and as things panned out, the Englishman’s 3&1 victory over Rickie Fowler earned Europe the point which actually won them the Ryder Cup.

Tommy Fleetwood’s Ryder Cup record

Fleetwood possesses a truly incredible record at the Ryder Cup.

Here are his numbers from the three Ryder Cups he has played so far:

That record should give Fleetwood huge confidence heading into the Ryder Cup later this month at Bethpage.

And if he manages to pick up around three or four points, Europe will be in with a great chance of beating the United States.