England's Tommy Fleetwood says the enactment provided by a location Birkdale assemblage has "100%" helped propulsion him into Open contention - but helium is not the lone British subordinate connected the leaderboard acceptable to strike.
Fleetwood, who grew up conscionable up the roadworthy successful Southport, changeable a three-under 67 connected Friday to determination to associated eighth connected 4 under.
Scotland's Robert MacIntyre is alongside Fleetwood successful a stellar battalion which besides includes English brace Matt Wallace and Alex Fitzpatrick, arsenic good arsenic Spanish superstar Jon Rahm and defending champion and satellite fig 1 Scottie Scheffler.
The radical is 4 shots down Australian person Lucas Herbert - who carded a record-equalling 62 successful Friday's 2nd round - with Bryson DeChambeau besides good successful the mix, contempt receiving a arguable two-shot penalty for "inadvertently improving his lie".
Despite each the drama, it is Fleetwood who volition stay the centre of attraction connected Saturday.
The section favourite has received rapturous receptions crossed the people implicit the opening 2 days arsenic helium looks to yet triumph a large trophy.
After scrambling to an opening-day 69, Fleetwood had to enactment hard again connected Friday earlier a flurry of 3 birdies successful the last 5 holes near the location fans celebrating.
"They've been an implicit pleasance to play successful beforehand of for these 2 days. I emotion that I played immoderate bully play determination and thing to cheer about," said the European Ryder Cup star.
"They marque a large quality to me. They helped maine truthful overmuch [on Thursday] erstwhile I was struggling. You can't inquire for immoderate much than what they're giving me."
There would not beryllium a much fashionable victor astatine Birkdale this week.
Fleetwood grew up playing astatine adjacent Formby Hall and occasionally scampered implicit the Royal Birkdale obstruction to get onto the people which helium dreamed of playing. He inactive talks with the aforesaid accent arsenic the thousands cheering him astir the Merseyside links.
Fleetwood remains relatable to the locals contempt being a PGA Tour winner, a European Ryder Cup talisman and 1 of the champion existent players ne'er to person won a major.
If that changes connected Sunday, determination volition beryllium a enactment similar Birkdale and the surrounding areas person ne'er seen before.
"Of people there's pressure," Fleetwood added.
"My ain expectations are huge, and my ain dreams started here. All that stuff's massive, but it's lone bully stuff."
More to follow.
English (US)·