Tommy Fleetwood is in pole position to win his first PGA Tour event in his 162nd start at the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
Fleetwood has been one of the most consistent players on the PGA Tour over the past few years but amazingly, he is still winless.
The 34-year-old Englishman is an experienced winner over in Europe, but he has never been able to get the job done in America. Perhaps this week at the FedEx St. Jude Championship is his time to shine.
Fleetwood said he played really well before the FedEx Cup Championship began in the Pro-Am on Wednesday.
Back in July, Fleetwood admitted to being dejected after his performance at The Open, and his form hasn’t been anywhere near good enough since he failed to win the Travelers Championship in June.
However, he’s very much back in form in Memphis this week after rounds of 63 and 64 put him at the top of the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
Tommy Fleetwood reacts to second round 64 at the FedEx St. Jude
Fleetwood was in imperious form on day two at the FedEx St. Jude.
He made seven birdies and a solitary bogey in his round of 64 – one that put him at the top of the leaderboard ahead of the weekend.
After his round, Fleetwood was asked what he likes so much about the back nine at TPC Southwind.
He said: “I don’t know, but those were two nice runs to get on really. I felt like especially today — like yesterday I felt like I stayed very patient, and then today after a hot start, a few pars in a row, but actually 9, 10, 11, 12 I wasn’t feeling that comfortable with my swing, so actually then to get on a run after that I hit great shots into 13, 14 was a lovely shot. I played those holes really, really well, played them perfect. Two nice runs really on the back nine.
“Like I said, it’s not easy really. I’ve just happened to have played really well, put the ball in place, but happy with those two.“
Fleetwood was then asked if he is happy with his game in general.
He replied: “Yeah, I think so. Of course, when you shoot two good scores, it’s easy to say everything has been going well, but I think for the most part I’ve been very good off the tee, put myself in position to have a go at the course. My iron play has been good and solid, and I’ve rolled the ball well.
“The greens are really true and I’ve had a nice eye on the greens and good reads and rolling it well. Of course whatever score I am through two rounds, you’re going to have done everything well, but I think still you’ve got to focus on the good stuff and try and keep that going.“
And then the Englishman was asked whether keeping the ball in play off the tee is the most important thing at TPC Southwind.
Fleetwood said: “Well, I think so. I think it’s a course where you can really score well if you’re in the fairway, and if you’re not, it becomes a struggle. The two times I missed the fairway today, you look at 9 and 18, 9 I had to chip out and I made par, but I had to get up-and-down from 105 yards or whatever it was. Then 18 I was out of position, made bogey.
“I just think it’s very easy to do that, but I think if you’re hitting it well off the tee, it makes the course very gettable.“
Can Fleetwood follow Cameron Young by breaking PGA Tour duck?
Cameron Young won his first PGA Tour event last week after 94 starts.
And Fleetwood was asked if he is capable of replicating the 28-year-old New Yorker.
He said: “We’ll see. Happy to put myself in with a chance over the weekend. I think that’s exactly where you want to be and keep testing yourself. Yeah, it hasn’t happened for me yet out on the PGA TOUR, but I would much rather be up there and not quite get it done than not there at all, and who knows, maybe this weekend is the weekend and we’ll see, and we’ll crack on from there. But look forward to tomorrow first.“
Fleetwood easily has the talent and ability to win the FedEx St Jude Championship but it remains to be seen whether he has the mental strength needed to get over the line.
He should have a lead going into the weekend in Memphis, and the pressure will ramp up on the Englishman when he tees it up in round three on Saturday.
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