Dubai: Tommy Fleetwood, the 2017 Race to Dubai champion, has set his sights on a stellar 2019 campaign — starting with the Omega Dubai Desert Classic this weekend at Emirates Golf Club.
The Englishman rose to prominence in 2017 thanks to his victories in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and Open de France and he held on to claim the European Tour’s top prize at the end of the season.
Despite a valiant push last year, Fleetwood missed out on defending his title as Francesco Molinari beat him to the Race to Dubai trophy and — as he himself admits — he was a beaten man at the end of the year, exhausted after more than 30 tournaments all over the globe in 2018.
But after a few weeks off and a run out at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship last week, he insists he has reignited his love for the game and is raring to go.
“The rust has gone after a tough year,” he said. “I had a big rise in 2017 and even bigger one last year. But it was all a bit too much. I played something like 35 tournaments and that was too much. I was exhausted by the end of the year. I played Hong Kong after the DP World Tour Championship and then I didn’t feel like touching a club for the whole of December.
“I had some chip shots with the kids but that was it. It was great to take a break but now I am passionate again and can’t wait to get going here in Dubai.”
Fleetwood also said he was delighted with the set-up of the course after last year’s renovations around the greens meant there was little rough to contend with.
“The rough is up a little bit, which really should spread out the field,” he said. “Last year, there was a lot of fringe so you were basically putting from off the green, but this year it will be a lot tougher. You won’t get away with any missed approach shots this time around.”
Fleetwood is optimistic he can make an impact this weekend, despite never really contending in the tournament before.
“I’ve never put in the results here but I really enjoy the course and it has a brilliant back nine,” he said. “I’m sure I can get something done this week. I didn’t do great in Abu Dhabi last week. It could have been better but I’m going in the right direction.”
There are new rules this season across the board in golf, including drops from knee-height instead of shoulder height, but Fleetwood has a plan to dodge the rule-book.
“If I hit the fairway then the green, then I’ll be fine. I don’t expect to use too many of the new rules. Fairway. Green. Fine. Sorted.”
It’s that simple for a fired-up Fleetwood as he targets glory in Dubai.
