Scottie Scheffler is on course to win his first Open Championship and complete the third leg of the career Grand Slam.
Scheffler entered the final round at Royal Portrush with a four-shot lead over Haotong Li and has never looked in any danger of losing it.
If there was any doubt over the best golfer in the world before this week, the 29-year-old will end that debate when he lifts the Claret Jug.
Tommy Fleetwood has explained whether he thinks Scheffler’s greatness is good for the sport.
Tommy Fleetwood appreciates Scottie Scheffler’s greatness
Some might say that Scheffler’s dominance makes the sport less interesting because his level is unattainable for anyone else.
Fleetwood does not see it that way. He thinks it’s “great” that even world-class golfers like himself have someone to chase.
“It’s amazing,” he said. “I suppose he’s earned the right to be spoken about as people speak about him. Just looking at what he’s doing on the par-5, he looks like he’s actually not making a birdie on the hole.
“Yeah, phenomenal player. I think having someone like that to keep us looking up to and keep us all chasing is great.
“I think, obviously, if he keeps going the way he is, we’re all going to look back and talk about him in the same breath as some of the all-time greats, and he’s played in our generation.
“We’ll see. You don’t want to obviously just predict what’s going to happen today. I don’t want to jinx him or anything like that, but it does look like everybody’s saying it’s going to be a procession, but golf is a funny game.
“We’ll see. It looks like he’s going to be four majors in, three down against a career grand slam, so very impressive.”
It looks like Scheffler will be going for the career Grand Slam at the US Open next year, a little over one year after Rory McIlroy achieved the feat at The Masters.
Tommy Fleetwood reflects on The Open Championship at Royal Portrush
Fleetwood’s chances of winning The Open effectively ended on the first day with an opening round 73 (+2).
He bounced back with scores of 68, 69, and 67 in the next three rounds to secure a decent top-20 finish at Royal Portrush.
The Englishman was disappointed not to better his runner-up finish at the course in 2019, but he still enjoyed his week in Northern Ireland.
“I’ve played two Opens here now, and they’ve been great. The atmosphere has been great,” Fleetwood continued.
“In 2019, I played with Shane [Lowry] in the final round, and this week I had Rory for the first two days as well. Being part of the atmosphere, I think, is great. I think personally, the golf course, how it plays, is great.
“I’ve enjoyed it again. Like I say, aside from my own sort of feeling of I wish I could have done just a bit more, I don’t think I’d have been catching Scottie anyway by the looks of it.
“But you’re looking for your own personal satisfaction. But it’s been a very, very good week and a great venue.”
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