Tommy Fleetwood has suggested that it was helpful for him to be playing alongside Rory McIlroy and Ludvig Aberg during the opening round of the US Open at Shinnecock Hills.
Fleetwood is off to a promising start at the third major of the year. The Englishman finished his day inside the top 20 after posting a level par round of 70 in New York.
What have you made of the setup on Thursday at the US Open?
Shinnecock Hills has been brutal…
The FedEx Cup champion was involved in one of the marquee groups of the opening day.
Tommy Fleetwood reacts to playing with Rory McIlroy and Ludvig Aberg at the US Open
Fleetwood was teeing it up alongside Ludvig Aberg and Rory McIlroy. Of course, the trio have probably not played golf together in New York since helping Europe win last year’s Ryder Cup.
Their group was among those who faced arguably the worst of the conditions on Thursday at Shinnecock Hills.
Nevertheless, they all have reason to be extremely happy with their performances in the first round.
Both Aberg and McIlroy posted rounds of 69 to leave themselves one shot ahead of Fleetwood. It could have easily been even better for the Northern Irishman, with McIlroy making two bogeys on his final two holes.
And speaking after his round, Fleetwood explained how beneficial it was to play alongside his two good friends.
“I think we had a good group today. The round started to get away from me a little bit when I made the turn, made two like poor three-putts. But I think sometimes it almost helps when you’ve got two guys going really well. Not that they can kind of drag you up,” he said.
“If you’re struggling, it gives you a false reflection of maybe what’s going on. Those two were having two of the best rounds of the day. So it kind of helps you in a way. It kind of drags you a little bit.
“Other than that, it’s hard. Just watching how shots react, particularly like putts. It’s so windy out there. The job’s never done even when you hit the green. Greens are so small in terms of the areas to hit it at, but then it’s still really tough from there.
“It’s like constant. Like you are watching them just to kind of get some kind of feel or read on the putt.”
Why the US Open may present Tommy Fleetwood’s best chance at major glory
Much has been made of the need for Fleetwood to win a major sooner rather than later. The 35-year-old has the capability to do so, and his victory at East Lake last year will have given him even more belief.
There is good reason to think that win is most likely to come at the US Open one year.
Fleetwood has more top five finishes at the US Open than any other major. And his best result, a second place finish, came the last time the event was held at Shinnecock Hills.
On that occasion in 2018, Fleetwood managed to set the course record with a 63 on Sunday.
So there will be plenty of players who are worried about Fleetwood if he keeps himself in the mix over the coming days.
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