Tommy Fleetwood had himself quite the day Thursday at the 2023 Open Championship. The Englishman grew up a mere hour from Royal Liverpool, the host of this year’s final men’s major, and is feeling the hometown love so far this week.
A 5-under 66 has Fleetwood tied for the early lead and in position once again to make a run at a major title.
In eight previous appearances at the Open, Fleetwood has two top-5 finishes, one in 2019 at Royal Portrush (2nd) and one last year at St. Andrews (T-4).
On top of his search for his maiden major title, Fleetwood is still looking for his first win on the PGA Tour.
Here are some of the best photos of Fleetwood and his wife, Clare, who he married in 2017.
The final men’s major of the year is at Royal Liverpool in Hoylake, England, for the 2023 Open Championship.
Cam Smith entered the week as the defending champion after his come-from-behind victory over Rory McIlroy at St. Andrews in 2022.
McIlroy claimed the Claret Jug at Hoylake nine years ago, his third of four (and most recent) major victories. Like Smith, McIlroy won in his last start, the Genesis Scottish Open.
“I was that one guy when they said no one can play all three. Well, I did it. Shocker.”
Patrick Reed hasn’t had much success at the Open Championship over the last two years. After missing the cut in 2021 at Royal St. George’s, Reed tied for 47th at St. Andrews in 2022.
However, he’s off to a great start this time around, posting an opening-round 1-under 70 at Royal Liverpool on Thursday morning.
“Oh, it was frustrating,” Reed said of his round. “Felt like I hit the ball pretty well for the most part. Left myself a lot of good looks, a lot of good spots. Just didn’t really make anything.
“The game feels good. The number is just not producing. That very easily should have been a 4-, 5-, 6-under par round, and I shoot 1-under par. I guess I could say it’s kind of one of my better first rounds I’ve had in a while. I’m having to play huge catch-up.”
Despite this week being the final men’s major championship until the Masters in April, it’s easy to look forward to September’s Ryder Cup. Reed has been a part of three United States vs. Europe battles, but missed out on the Whistling Straits blowout two years ago.
His move to the LIV Golf League has made his journey to earning a spot on Zach Johnson’s team much more difficult, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Just look at LIV’s Brooks Koepka, who currently owns an automatic qualifying spot thanks to his performances in majors this year, including a win at the PGA Championship.
Reed understands what he has to do to earn a trip to Rome, and he’s trying to keep it as simple as possible.
“I mean, the only thing I can do on that is go out and play well this week, go out and have a chance hopefully to win the tournament on Sunday and put myself in that position where they have to think about it,” Reed said.
“That’s the thing; playing good golf takes care of everything. Takes care of these events, the majors, takes care of the Ryder Cups and all that. Just going and playing your way on, but playing well. Yeah, the guys that are part of LIV of course we’re on the 8-ball with that because of course we only have four tournaments that count. All we can do is continue playing solid golf and give yourself chances because winning trophies takes care of that.”
Patrick Reed of the United States reacts on the ninth during the morning fourball matches of the 2018 Ryder Cup at Le Golf National on September 29, 2018 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Reed mentioned that he has talked to Johnson this week, but the conversation wasn’t about golf.
The 2018 Masters champ was later asked about potentially playing on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf League as the landscape of the sport is being transformed by the Tour-PIF framework agreement.
“I’ve always wanted to play and keep my European Tour status. I’m an honorary lifetime member. I take pride in that,” he said. “PGA Tour, yeah of course I’d love to play. The first year of LIV I would have played the minimum — I already played the minimum on the PGA Tour.
“I have played every event on LIV and I would have played the minimum on the European Tour. I was that one guy when they said no one can play all three. Well, I did it. Shocker.
“But that’s the thing. Where I play, who knows. If I play PGA Tour, LIV, or if I played European Tour. The biggest thing is there should be no reason why if we’ve qualified well we shouldn’t be able to. People say you can’t make your cake and eat it, as well, but how many PGA Tour players go over and play a European Tour for money? They’re getting appearance fees. They’re not showing up to play for competition. They’re getting paid to do that. It shouldn’t matter as long as you play the minimum and do what you’re supposed to, you play, and that’s fine.
“If you play the minimum on the European Tour and you earn enough points to keep your card, you should be able to play. If you play the minimum on the PGA Tour and you have enough FedExCup points to keep your card, more power to you.”
Reed will tee off at 7:31 a.m. ET Friday for his second round.
For the first time in nine years, all eyes are on Royal Liverpool for the 2023 Open Championship.
The last time we were in Hoylake, Rory McIlroy became the 2014 Champion Golfer of the Year after outlasting Rickie Fowler and Sergio Garcia. McIlroy, who finished third at St. Andrews last year, is coming off a stellar win at the Genesis Scottish Open, battling tough conditions down the stretch and birdieing the final two holes.
Cam Smith enters the week as the reigning champion thanks to his come-from-behind victory over McIlroy at the Old Course.
Before the action gets underway Thursday morning, here are Golfweek‘s picks to win and a few sleepers to keep an eye on.
HOYLAKE, England — As Rory McIlroy arrived on the scene at the 151st British Open at Royal Liverpool Golf Club on Monday, the memories of his victory here in 2014 came flooding back.
“Maybe not as much as you would think,” he said. “Over the past nine years a lot has happened in my life and I’ve played a lot of golf tournaments. But yeah, there’s a few things that I remember, and it’s nice to get back on to the golf course and sort of refamiliarize myself with it.”
Perhaps he remembered the goose bumps he felt during Saturday’s third round as he walked to the 18th green before rolling in a 10-foot eagle putt, his second in three holes. Ninety minutes earlier, McIlroy had been tied for the lead before his hot streak broke the championship wide open as he built a commanding six-stroke 54-hole lead.
“It wasn’t quite the championship, but it put one hand on the Claret Jug,” McIlroy said. “I just needed to go out Sunday and not do anything stupid. That Saturday afternoon was huge.”
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland celebrates with the Claret Jug after his two-stroke victory after the final round of The 143rd Open Championship at Royal Liverpool on July 20, 2014 in Hoylake, England. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
He claimed his third major championship a day later and the third leg of the career Grand Slam at age 25. He would go on to win the WGC Bridgestone Invitational and PGA Championship in back-to-back weeks a month later, yet, improbably, 33 major starts since that PGA at Valhalla, he’s still stuck at four Grand Slam titles.
The script seemed written for him to end his major drought at last year’s Open at St. Andrews but his putter cooled off on Sunday and Cameron Smith dashed past him to claim the Claret Jug. After his media obligations were over, McIlroy drove off in a golf cart crying on his wife’s shoulders. Just last month, at the U.S. Open, in what seemed like a bad case of déjà vu, McIlroy played another solid round but was unable to make a birdie after the opening hole, losing by a stroke to Wyndham Clark. More heartbreak for McIlroy, who has six top-10 finishes in his last seven major starts, including two seconds and a third. Yet he’s proven time and again that he’s willing to get off the proverbial mat and come back swinging.
“I would go through 100 Sundays like this to get my hands on another major championship,” he said after the U.S. Open disappointment.
When McIlroy etched his name on the Claret Jug in 2014, he was at the peak of his powers.
“When you know you’re in control of your swing, it makes everything a little bit easier,” he said back in 2014.
He’s been chasing that form ever since, and just might be on the verge of a similar run. McIlroy has finished in the top 10 in each of his last six starts, his longest such stretch since he had a streak of seven straight before the 2019-2020 season was suspended due to COVID-19. He made birdie on the final two holes Sunday to nip Robert MacIntyre and win the Genesis Scottish Open, his 24th PGA Tour title, and improved to No. 2 in the world.
“I don’t feel like it really proves anything,” McIlroy said on Sunday. “I don’t feel like I need to prove anything in my career, but it’s satisfying to know that for me that I can still do it.”
NBC’s Brad Faxon, who doubles as McIlroy’s putting coach, argued that there can be no better preparation for competing in a major than to duel in the heat of battle for a title ahead of one of the four weeks that matter most.
“I don’t buy that you can practice better for a major by staying home. I think this is the best thing he could have done. Is it better to finish fourth place than first? I don’t think so,” Faxon said.
But it is winning majors that McIlroy knows will determine how he is remembered in the game. Whenever someone asks him to reflect on his career to date, he always circles back to his 18-year-old self at Carnoustie making his Open debut in 2007.
“If you were to tell him in 15-16 years’ time, this is where you would be in your career I would’ve thought, oh my goodness, I’ve hit the lottery and all my dreams have come true,” McIlroy said in an interview with The Open’s website. “I’m really happy with what I’ve done, I’m proud of my achievements. Are there tournaments that I could have won that have slipped through my fingers? Yes. But I feel like I’ve won my fair share and I’ve become a much more consistent golfer and that will only give me more opportunities to win big tournaments and big championships.”
“When I look at the big picture, I’m really happy with my body of work,” he added, but putting his name on the Claret Jug in 2014 “feels a long time ago…Happy to have it on once but would love to put it on again.”
Can someone shock the golf world this week at Hoylake?
The world of golf has returned to Hoylake for the 2023 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool. Nine years ago, Rory McIlroy outlasted Rickie Fowler and Sergio Garcia on his way to becoming the 2014 Champion Golfer of the Year at this very venue.
McIlroy, who won the Genesis Scottish Open last week, was chased down by Cam Smith last season at St. Andrews and eventually finished third.
The final men’s major championship of the year is here, as the best players in the world have descended upon Royal Liverpool for the 2023 Open Championship.
The last time the world of golf was at Hoylake was nine years ago when Rory McIlroy earned the title of 2014 Champion Golfer of the Year. McIlroy enters the week in great form with six straight top-10 finishes including a win at last week’s Genesis Scottish Open.
The reigning Open champion, however, is Cam Smith, who chased down McIlroy at the Old Course last season. Smith also won in his last start at LIV Golf London.
Here are eight of the best groupings for the first two rounds of the Open Championship. All tee times listed are Eastern Standard Time (Hoylake is five hours ahead).
For the first time since 2014, all eyes are on Hoylake.
The best players in the world have made their way to Royal Liverpool for the 2023 Open Championship, the final men’s major of the year.
Cam Smith, after his come-from-behind victory at the Old Course last season, enters the week as the defending champion. He admitted Monday that he was a bit emotional returning the Claret Jug.
The man he chased down at St. Andrews, Rory McIlroy, won the title of Champion Golfer of the Year nine years ago when the Open last came to this historic venue.
Both players won the last event they played in: Smith at LIV Golf London, and McIlroy at the Genesis Scottish Open.
A view of the green on the par-4 1st hole for the 2023 Open Championship (plays as the 17th hole for the club routing) at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, England. (Photo: David Cannon/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
Tiger Woods underwent ankle surgery shortly after the Masters in April and hasn’t played on the PGA Tour since. And it doesn’t sound like he’ll be back anytime soon.
According to Bob Harig of Sports Illustrated, Woods will not be in the field for the 2023 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, July 20-23.
“We have been advised that he won’t be playing at Hoylake,” said Mike Woodcock of the R&A via email to SI.
Woods is a three-time Champion Golfer of the Year: 2000 and 2005 at St Andrews and 2006 at Royal Liverpool. The 15-time major champion played in the 150th edition of the Open last year, but missed the cut at the Old Course.
Notable LIV golfers exempt include Cam Smith, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka.
Martin Slumbers and the R&A have been an open book in regard to the impending decision on whether LIV Golf members would be allowed to play in the Open.
Then, at the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship in October, Slumbers reiterated his message to Golf Digest: “We’ll go public in January/February with what we are going to do with regard to LIV golfers. But if you want a guide, go back to what I said in July. We’re not banning anyone. We are not going to betray 150 years of history and have the Open not be open.”
He’s kept his word.
The R&A has officially announced that qualifying LIV members will be allowed to play in the 151st edition at Royal Liverpool in July.
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As it stands now, some of the notable LIV golfers exempt into the tournament include Cam Smith, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka and Patrick Reed.
“We have created an exciting schedule of events which takes in many regions around the world and provides the chance for golfers to earn a place in the Open at Royal Liverpool,” said Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, the R&A’s executive director of champions. “We are grateful to our colleagues at the professional tours for their support and look forward to seeing who emerges from each event to book a sought-after place in the Championship this year.”
The Open is now the third major championship to announce LIV participation is approved, joining the Masters and U.S. Open.
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