TOMMY Fleetwood is ready for another exciting end of season run in as he arrives at the Omega European Masters for the first time since his 2017 Race to Dubai-winning season.
The World No. 13 has become a model of consistency in recent years and has missed just a single European Tour cut since his last appearance in Crans Montana two years ago.
His first three appearance in the Omega European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club all yielded top 20 finishes, with his best result a fifth place finish in 2014.
The 2018 Ryder Cup star is looking forward to recapturing his early form in this event as he aims to be crowned European No. 1 for the second time.
The 28-year-old is currently in fourth position in the Race to Dubai rankings, thanks to six top 20 finishes – including second place at The Open, his second Major runner-up finish in the last two seasons – and believes he has a realistic chance of replicating his 2017 banner year.
Fleetwood said in Switzerland on Tuesday: “With the opportunities coming up, if you’re in the hunt until the end you’ve got a realistic chance in the Race to Dubai.
“This definitely feels like the start to the run in to the end of the season. It’s nice to have this stretch coming up, where with some good golf I could be in there again.
“I missed this event last year and the last time I played was before my son Frankie was born.
“It’s always such a beautiful place to come, everyone says it. You could talk about the venue all week. I’ve been looking forward to it because I missed out last year.
“That’s the first time I missed it since I became a pro. I’ve struggled the last couple of times after it being somewhere that I had always played well.
“The first year when I finished top 20, it was the best result of the year so far for me, my first year on Tour. It’s nice to be back with a different status.
“This week is a lot busier for me but that’s something that I hope continues because I’m doing something right. It will be nice to come back with a clear mind and playing better again.
“The Race to Dubai is well ahead of most things. To be part of that Ryder Cup team with Francesco Molinari and beat an American team that was so strong was amazing.
“But on an individual level, the Race to Dubai is well up there. I realised last year how difficult it is to retain it and this year I will chase it again.
“To win one when it’s your time is so important. I can look back on that and be very happy.”
Fleetwood is part of a stellar field teeing it up in the 80th edition of the Omega European Masters, with World No. 2 Rory McIlroy and his fellow Major winners Sergio Garcia, Danny Willett and 2020 Ryder Cup Captain Padraig Harrington joining two-time tournament winner and defending champion Matt Fitzpatrick at the stunning Swiss Alpine venue.
