The recent success of Tommy Fleetwood was shaped by his experience at a Merseyside golf resort
David Goscombe, director of golf at Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
People at a Merseyside golf resort are “ecstatic” after their former player Tommy Fleetwood claimed his first US golf title. The 34 year-old from Southport held his nerve to claim the victory after an agonising run of top-five finishes without a win – winning a tour event at the 164th time of asking.
He beat Patrick Cantlay, Russell Henley and Scottie Scheffler to the title after finishing 18-under at East Lake Golf Club. A par on the final hole capped a fantastic weekend in style for Fleetwood, who looked up to the sky as he was named champion, winning by three strokes.
Fleetwood will pocket $10m for winning the FedEx Cup in Georgia. But his story began at Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa on Southport Old Road, where he used to train as a child. His dad Peter is also still a member and the pair visit when they can.
David Goscombe, who is now the director of golf at the resort, trained alongside Fleetwood as a youngster. Following his success, the Tommy Fleetwood Academy opened at the site in 2019 under the leadership of his first coach Norman Marshall.
Speaking to the ECHO this afternoon about what Tommy was like as a youngster, David, 37, from Crosby, said: “I first met Tommy when he was 10 and I was about 12.
“We played at the Municipal in Southport in the Sefton Junior Open, and I was paired with Tommy. I was a good golfer myself, but he was exceptionally good at the age of 10.
“We used to practice together. I think the most notable thing about Tommy was his hard work and dedication. I’d get there at 7am and he’d already be there.
“I’d leave there at 5pm and he’d still be there. He was just known to be absolutely hardworking and dedicated from a very young age and it never stopped. I don’t think he missed a single day’s golf in his life.”
Away from the sporting side however, David says there is a warm side to Fleetwood, who has remained in close contact with the people he grew up with.
Tommy Fleetwood, David Goscombe and Peter Fleetwood at Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa (Image: David Goscombe)
He said: “I think we get a bit complacent here at Formby because he’s just a normal guy and he gets on well with all the members and staff. He’s just so likeable, kind and friendly. He does a lot of work with the junior golfers.”
This view is shared by Norman, 56, from Southport. He said: “I first met him when he was six and he was just a nice, friendly kid. He was a little version of what he is now.”
After so many near misses, David and others were quietly confident this time around that this would be his year. He said: “We all know that Tommy is one of the best players in the world and we all knew that the win was coming the last few months.
“He’s had a few near misses, so the intensity has built up. Everyone here all feel it and during the times when he did mess up, everyone the next day would feel down about it. This time around, coming down the stretch, you could see how composed he was and it just felt like his time.”
Despite this, David felt the highs and lows while he was watching him last weekend. He said: “That being said, myself and I think many other people who know him well were still very stressed out watching it.
“I watched it intensely the whole night. As I was celebrating, my dogs were getting scared. I had to calm down when he was holding some of the putts.”
The tension made his victory all the more satisfying. David said: “Everyone’s just been ecstatic. We had our anniversary event yesterday and everyone was talking about it. The fact that it was the big one with a big pay cheque and it was the end of year tour championship made it even more special.”
Norman added: “I felt extremely happy and a great sense of justice for Tommy. He’s playing against the very best golfers in the world, in the peak of their form, who want the same thing he wants in America.
“It’s all stacked against him. The more near misses he had, the more that the pressure built up, so it was nice for him to hold off the challenges on Sunday.”
The golf course at Formby Hall where Fleetwood trained as a youngster (Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
David has passed on his congratulations to Fleetwood’s caddy, Ian Finnis, who used to work at Formby Hall too.
For Norman, there are two aspects to Tommy’s story which carry an important lesson for future golfers. He said: “I think he’d played 163 times without winning. I’ve just done a kids golf group now and told them, if at first you don’t succeed, try again.
“His dreams of making it big were very distant. I’m dealing with parents who want their kids to put in the hard work before they actually love the game. Tommy just loved the game and it’s the passion for golf that lays at the root of all his success.”
The Tommy Fleetwood Academy has been so popular it has expanded to a second location in Dubai too.
The victory will further cement Fleetwood’s local legacy and it shouldn’t be long before Tommy pays another visit. Next year will also see Fleetwood receive a very warm welcome at Royal Birkdale for The Open Championship.
Norman said: “He made it from Southport just through sheer love of the game, determination and effort. There aren’t many people who get that far in their chosen career and come all the way back to where they came from, and that’s what he’s done with this academy.”
David added: “I’m sure Tommy will be here very soon. He usually comes when he’s back home and he’ll play golf with his dad. The same with Ian, his caddie.
“I’m looking forward to having a nice beer with him when he is free to celebrate the win.”