Tommy Fleetwood pays tribute to late mother after playing his way into final Open pairing
- Planet Sport writer
- 22 July 2023
The Englishman wasn't able to cut into Brian Harman's lead but did hold on to second place heading into the weekend.
Tommy Fleetwood paid tribute an emotional tribute to his late mother after keeping himself in contention for Open victory on Friday.
The Southport player, who held a share of the overnight lead, carded a level-par 71 to end the second round in second place at Royal Liverpool, five shots behind leader Brian Harman.
Friday's round came on the first anniversary of his mother's death, and the world number 21 spoke afterwards about the influence she had on his golf game as a youngster.
Fleetwood said: "She took me everywhere. She was always the driver and she would always take me to the range, or the golf, or wherever I wanted to go.
"She was always a very supporting influence. She was a very tough woman, which was great. She was always such a supporter.
"She actually never said no to taking me anywhere, which looking back at it, is always what you would want.
"Your parents play such a huge role in the rest of your life. She never stopped me from playing or practising."
Fleetwood was disappointed not to have made greater inroads into Harman's lead after the American surged ahead with a stunning round of 65 earlier in the day.
Yet having kept himself ahead of the rest of the field heading into the weekend, the 32-year-old was upbeat about his position and positive about his general performance.
He said: "It turned into a grind in the end. I actually think for the most part of the round.
"I stuck in there and overall level par wasn't really a bad round. It feels good.
"At the end of the day, if somebody had said you're going out in the last group on Saturday, I don't care what the situation was or what anybody had shot, I'd have probably taken it.
"That's the way I look at it, and I just look forward to playing over the weekend."
