World No.11 Tommy Fleetwood is hoping his recent stint as a looper for stepson Oscar Craig at the UAE Challenge can help him improve his own game going forward.
The seven-time DP World Tour winner, who is based in Dubai, jumped at the opportunity to caddy for Craig after the youngster earned a first start on the Challenge Tour by winning the Ras Al Khaimah Men’s Open earlier this year.
In fact, Fleetwood was so desperate to act as Craig’s bagman, he flew straight from South Carolina to the UAE following the final round of the PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage to ensure he made it to Saadiyat Beach Golf Club in time for tournament week.
“I wanted to get ahead of everybody and be his caddy,” said Fleetwood, who finished in a share of third at the Masters Tournament two weeks prior to the UAE Challenge.
“I just wanted to be out there with him. It was a really cool experience.”
With the experience of Fleetwood by his side, Craig shone at the UAE Challenge.
The 17-year-old opened with an impressive bogey-free 69, before battling his emotions, which he said were “all over the place”, to card a second round 73 to make the cut – the only amateur to do so – on his professional debut.
“There are millions of levels you can dream of in the game and when Oscar made the cut, he said it was more than he could have ever dreamed of,” said Fleetwood.
“I just think that’s one of the most beautiful things you could ever hear.
“He did great, but however good of a time he had, I had a better one I think, caddying for Oscar.
“I’ve played the game for all my life pretty much, but having our boys now that are working so hard at it and clearly dreaming of a future in the game, to see their work pay off and have opportunities like this, and then Oscar making the most of it by making the cut, it’s been fantastic, it really has.”
With Craig making the most of his opportunity, Fleetwood is also hoping to make use of his unique week.
Having developed an insight into life on the other side of the bag, the two-time Ryder Cup winner believes he can instil some of the practices he learned in Abu Dhabi into his own game.
“For me, it’s been a great experience caddying,” he said.
“I think I might have even become a better player by caddying and learned a few things. I think I should play with the attitude I have when I caddy, that would be a good start.
“As a caddy, you kind of see the right shot to play whereas when playing you feel like you can pull anything off and you want to give it a go, so I think you’re much more sensible as a caddy. I think your attitude stays more neutral because you have to make sure your player stays that way.
“You understand that the next shot is very important; whatever has happened, has happened. I feel like I might want to take a lot of the lessons I’ve given myself and play like that.”
