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Tommy Fleetwood to Play 2026 British Open at Royal Birkdale
The 35-year-old Southport native will tee off Thursday at the course near his childhood home. Fleetwood seeks his first major title after winning the 2025 Tour Championship.
Jul 13, 3:12 PM·1m read3 sources
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Tommy Fleetwood will play the British Open at Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England, beginning Thursday. The 35-year-old grew up a 10-minute drive from the course and first played golf at age 6 at nearby Southport Municipal. As a child Fleetwood sneaked onto Royal Birkdale during evening dog walks with his father.
He competed there in 2017, shooting 76 in the first round and finishing tied for 27th. In 2023 at Royal Liverpool he shared the first-round lead before finishing tied for 10th. Fleetwood won the Tour Championship in August 2025 for his first PGA Tour title.
He has not yet won a major. A mural of him in his Ryder Cup uniform stands on the wall of Southport & Birkdale Sports Club, and the Tommy Fleetwood Academy operates at Formby Hall golf club. Rory McIlroy, who faced similar local expectations at Royal Portrush in 2019 and 2025, said Fleetwood appears more level-headed.
“You feel like you’re trying to play well for everyone else and not for yourself,” McIlroy said.
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