Key Points
- Tommy Fleetwood is drawing strong home support as The Open returns to Royal Birkdale in Southport, England.
- The 144th Open Championship is taking place at Royal Birkdale this week, with the tournament beginning on Thursday.
- Reports say Fleetwood grew up nearby and once viewed Royal Birkdale as virtually off-limits when he was a child.
- Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are among the leading favourites in the betting market for the championship.
- Tee times for the first round include Fleetwood alongside Rory McIlroy and other major contenders.
Liverpool (Liverpool standard) July 15, 2026 — Associated Press reported that Fleetwood is embracing the affection from the crowd as he prepares for The Open at Royal Birkdale. The article says the English golfer is being treated as a hometown favourite on a course that once felt reserved for others.
Fleetwood’s homecoming is becoming one of the central storylines at Royal Birkdale, where local fans are rallying behind one of their own. As reported by Doug Ferguson of the Associated Press, Tommy Fleetwood said that growing up in uk/local/southport/">Southport made Royal Birkdale feel distant and almost inaccessible, yet now he returns there with the backing of the same community that watched him rise.
What does Royal Birkdale mean to Fleetwood?
Royal Birkdale sits close to Fleetwood’s roots in Southport, and that local connection is now shaping the atmosphere around his campaign. According to the AP report carried by PGA Tour, he said that as a child he regarded the course as “virtually off-limits,” a detail that underlines how significant this week is for him personally.
That background helps explain why the crowd response is likely to be especially strong. The Open’s return to Royal Birkdale is not just another major venue switch; for Fleetwood, it is a stage tied to childhood memories and years of local recognition.
How is Fleetwood arriving form-wise?
Fleetwood comes into the championship with a mixed but competitive season on the PGA Tour. CBS Sports lists a fifth-place finish at the Truist Championship, a 10th-place finish at the Texas Open, and a fourth-place result at Pebble Beach among his notable 2026 results.
He also has experienced disappointment this season, including a missed cut at the PGA Championship. That uneven run adds context to The Open, where form, course fit and home support may all matter in his attempt to contend for a first major title.
Who are the main rivals at Royal Birkdale?
Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are being discussed as major favourites heading into the event. Golfweek and Golf Channel both list Scheffler and McIlroy among the leading names in the betting picture for Royal Birkdale.
ESPN’s preview says The Open, the season’s fourth major, begins on Thursday at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England. First-round tee-time listings also show Fleetwood in a prominent grouping that includes McIlroy, adding to the attention around the opening round.
What does this Open mean for British golf fans?
For British golf followers, Fleetwood’s return offers a distinctly local storyline inside one of the sport’s biggest events. The Open is already the oldest major championship in golf, but the Southport setting gives this edition a particularly strong national and regional flavour.
The crowd response could matter even if it does not alter the final result directly. Home backing often lifts a player’s visibility and can turn each round into a bigger event, especially when the golfer is already well known and playing in a field stacked with elite rivals.
Background of this development
The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale brings the tournament back to a venue with deep history in men’s golf. The event is the 144th Open Championship and is being played this week in Southport, England.
Fleetwood’s connection to the course has developed over many years, and the latest coverage highlights how that local link has become part of the wider narrative around the championship. At the same time, the betting market and expert coverage continue to centre on established major winners and world-class contenders such as Scheffler and McIlroy.
What is the prediction for local fans?
For the Southport crowd, Fleetwood’s presence is likely to create one of the most emotionally charged atmospheres of the week. His home support may not guarantee a win, but it can increase the pressure on his rivals and deepen the sense that this Open belongs to the local audience as much as the leaderboard.
If Fleetwood starts well, the support could become a major factor in the championship narrative and keep British fans engaged deep into the weekend. Even without a title challenge, his hometown role is likely to make him one of the most followed players for audiences in Southport and across Britain.
