Tommy Fleetwood recorded the lowest score in the second round of the 2024 Olympics, the member of Team Great Britain posting three strokes better than his first-round four-under 67.
On Friday, he shot a 7-under 64 with one eagle, six birdies and one bogey.
The score moved him up 11 places on the leaderboard, putting him in a tie for first place with Xander Schauffele of the U.S. team and Hideki Matsuyama of Japan.
Fleetwood, batting lower in the order, explained the uncertainty surrounding his swing.
“I haven’t been particularly happy with my swing all week,” Fleetwood said after Friday’s round.
“I’ve been doing what I know is right. I’ve been hitting the ball over and over. I’ve been doing the right things. If you keep hitting good shots over and over, your confidence will grow and you can keep drawing on that feeling.”
Photo: Andrew Redington/Getty Images
Fleetwood’s last appearance was at the British Open, where he missed the cut with a 76-75 draw at Royal Troon. That early exit at the final major of the year shows how unsure he is about his game.
Previously, he finished tied for 16th at the U.S. Open, tied for 26th at the PGA Championship and tied for third at the Masters.
“I got some distance and I hit some beautiful iron shots and I really knew what to do with the golf ball throughout the day,” he said. “Especially today when I had to get up and down and when I had to save par, I think I did it. Obviously seven under is a really good result on a round like today, but you’ve got to get it done.”
The Englishman is no stranger to Le Golf National, having been part of the European team that beat the United States in the Ryder Cup in 2018. Fleetwood was a major factor in that victory, as he and partner Francesco Molinari won all four matches they played together.
He also won the French Open on the same course in 2017. Despite that experience, the 33-year-old still has to deliver.
“I’ve played enough to understand what it’s like to play on the golf course,” he said. “I’m confident in my decisions off the tee, so that’s one thing, but I’ve still got to step up and hit the golf shot. I’ve done well so far and I’m going to try to continue to do that.”
Fleetwood is playing this week for an Olympic medal, not big money, but with that comes other challenges.
“I haven’t been in contention for a while,” Fleetwood said. “That’s fun in itself, as is the fact that it’s the Olympics. The atmosphere this week has always asked the question: what place does the Olympics have in golf? And the way things have gone this week, that question has only grown louder. There’s tension and excitement involved, so it’s pretty special.”
The Southport, England native will be competing in his second Olympic Games after qualifying in 2021. He knows what these games mean and how amazing it would be to become an Olympic medalist.
Fleetwood is in the final group of the third round of the men’s golf tournament. He will tee off at 6:39 a.m. ET along with Matsuyama and Schauffele. The Ryder Cup veteran is hoping to finish in the top three and build momentum heading into the FedEx Cup Playoffs.
Savannah Lee Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation Playing Through. Follow us for more golf articles. Follow You can follow us on all major social platforms. You can also follow us on Twitter Follow Her Instagram account is @golf_girl_sl.
