TOMMY CAN OPEN DOOR

Fleetwood to end ‘nearly man’ jinx

- by ALEX HANKIN

BACK Tommy Fleetwood to be crowned the king of Royal Portrush.

The Open comes to Northern Ireland this Thursday, at a course that sets a uniquely demanding test even by links standards.

The sometimes extreme changes in elevation will make this a truly roller coaster Major. Fleetwood has the game for it - and the stomach.

He took some familiar stick last month for missing the cut at the US Open, then ‘throwing away’ his chance of a first PGA Tour title at the Travelers Championship.

The popular wisdom is that Fleetwood is a choker, a ‘nearly man’ - after all, he holds the record for the most top-10 finishes without a PGA Tour win.

But the popular wisdom used to be the Earth was flat and no one would ever pay four grand to see an Oasis tribute act called Oasis.

Reality marches on, with or without us.

Yes, he's let a few chances slide away, but Fleetwood is more of a definitely-maybe man than a nearly one, on my reading of his numbers.