Tommy Fleetwood still believes his major dream can come true at The Open 2026

SOUTHPORT, England – The fairytale story for Tommy Fleetwood to win his first major at The Open, the championship that inspired his love of the game, at Royal Birkdale Golf Club, the course he used to hop the fence to play as a kid, is still alive with one round to go.

Fleetwood faltered a bit at the finish but signed for 1-under 69 on Saturday for a 54-hole total of 5-under 205 and sits in a tie for ninth five shots off the lead going into the final round. Has he allowed himself to think ahead of what it would be like to be called Champion Golfer of the Year on Sunday?

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“I’ve done it most days since I was seven years old, and it still hasn’t stopped. Yeah, that’s what life’s about, right? You daydream and you dream about the biggest things possible and then you try and make it a reality,” Fleetwood said. “To be honest, I’ve been pretty close to it this week. Today was as close as you’re going to get. I was within one of the lead at The Open playing on the back nine.”

Fleetwood reeled off birdies at Nos. 5, 7 and 11 and had a clean card until he bogeyed two of the final four holes at Nos. 15 and 18 as he fought a miss to the right and then over-compensated with his tee shot at 18. Fleetwood hasn’t abandoned his dream yet.

“There’s great rounds out there around this golf course, which is good to know,” he said, referring to three 62s shot in the past two days. “I can still go out and shoot a great round tomorrow and see what happens.”

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The 35-year-old Fleetwood rocked a lemon top and navy pants on Saturday, the new away kit of his Everton Football Club. With his piercing blue eyes twinkling, a smile on his face and his long brown hair tucked behind his ears, Fleetwood soaked in the applause raining down on him from his adoring fans as he approached the 18th green.

“Walking up to every green, it’s like the most amazing ovation that you can imagine,” he said. “Then I sort of acknowledge them in my way because I still want to stay in my bubble in a way, but it just happens that there’s like thousands of people in my bubble with me that are willing me on.”

Fleetwood still believes he can write a thrilling conclusion to the 154th Open but regardless he has loved every minute of it.

“Life is all about experiences, and I think I’ve had some of the best experiences of my life so far this week,” he said.

Adam Schupak is a senior writer for Golfweek covering the PGA Tour.