Seven weeks ago Tommy Fleetwood let his first career PGA Tour victories slide through his fingers while Keegan Bradley stormed back during the last three holes to avenge the Travelers championship from his handle.
After the heartbreaking defeat, Fleetwood went to the microphone and answered questions. The 34-year-old did not mug about the three-put-bogey on the 72nd hole that Bradley gave the victory. Instead, he promised to cover himself and to go again. For Fleetwood, the loss at TPC River Highlands was only the last step on the path to victory. Resolve was the theme of the complicated loss in Connecticut.
“I would just like to mock somewhere, and maybe I’ll do that,” Fleetwood said then. “But it just doesn’t make sense to make it a negative for the future, just take the positives and continue.
“I did a lot of things good enough this week to win, I didn’t, it hurts. [But] If it calms, the most stupid thing to do and the worst would be to make an obstacle to what you do in the future for a week like this. I clearly played great, I put myself in a great position, I led the tournament for 71 holes. I just want to make sure that I can put myself back in this position as quickly as possible and try to correct what I did this time. ”
As if he spoke to life, Fleetwood is back this week in that terrifying position in Memphis, Tenn., On the Fedex St. Jude Championship, the first stage of the Fedex Cup -Play -Offs. Fleetwood opened with rounds of 63 and 64 at TPC Southwind and supported it on Saturday with a One-Under 69. He will take a One-shot lead about good friend Justin Rose in the last round of Sunday, with Scottie Scheffler who lurks two shots back.
Sunday is another chance for Fleetwood to set his PGA Tour 0-for-out. There will be busy and nerves. He welcomes them because he has already done what he wanted to do.
“I played well the last time,” Fleetwood said on Saturday when he was asked what he learned at travelers. “I got very close. I led the tournament so long and it didn’t happen, and I said then, yes, there is an element for me, it took me a long time to win here, and I still didn’t do it, but the best possible scenario with those travelers immediately I was to put myself back in that position instead of later.
“It’s just another chance for me to go out and try to have the best golf round I can, enjoy being in that position. The more I place myself there, the more chance there is that it happens, and just to go out and keep learning from any experience. But tomorrow may be my day, but I will keep trying and doing that.”
It was then that Fleetwood was confronted with the issue of perspective – about the optimism that seems to flow so freely and is never damaged, regardless of the heartache.
The Englishman smiled and looked up before he unveiled something about himself – something that will serve him well on Sunday, whether he is the best and has his good friend Rose or not: a perspective that calms the mind and soul and allows disappointments to be changed into a productive power, even while the pain is still fresh. Own little in golf, let alone life.
“Probably,” said Fleetwood, when he was asked if he had always been an optimist. “I think so. Yes, I just think I would rather be there and failure then not at all. So anyway, it’s a good thing. Yes, it hurts when it doesn’t happen for you … Of course it is not my favorite time, such as the 18th at that moment, and I work so hard and I work so hard and I enjoy the day and you may not be good, but you are in a good day.
“As I say, I just look forward to the opportunities and keep giving myself a chance, haunting my dreams, and whether they happen or not tomorrow or the next week or the following week, that’s a different story. But I’m looking forward to it anyway.”
Tommy Fleetwood will arrive at TPC Southwind on Sunday, ready for an 18-hole walk to his dreams. Maybe Sunday is the day that everything fits in front of Tommy Fleetwood. But if that is not the case, Fleetwood, the eternal optimist, will absorb the pain, shake off and use to go to what comes after – to the dreams that he will catch and hold in the palm of his hands one day.
Because for those with the soul of a believer there is no other way to see it.
Tommy Fleetwood makes Birdie on 16 at TPC Southwind
Josh Schrock
Golf.com -edor
Josh Schrock is a writer and reporter for Golf.com. Before he came to Golf, Josh was the Chicago Bears Insider for NBC Sports Chicago. He previously covered the 49ers and Warriors for NBC Sports Bay Area. A native Oregonian and UO-Aluin, Josh spends his free time walking with his wife and dog, to think about how the ducks will break his heart again and try to become a semi-profit in Chipping. Josh, a real romantic for golf, will never stop breaking 90 and never losing the confidence that the great drought of Rory McIlroy will end (updated: he did it). Josh Schrock can be reached at josh.schrock@golf.com.
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