Tommy Fleetwood was a childhood star having been part of the English National Team since the age of 14, but the Southport golfer is now one of the fancied contenders for the 147th Open Championship, which kicks off at Carnoustie on Thursday morning.
Fleetwood was a well-known figure within the golfing world during his teenage years, but after working his way up from number one amateur to number one on the Challenge Tour, the 27-year-old is now widely regarded as one of the finest talents with a golf club in his hand, and he is now looking to fulfil a lifelong ambition by winning his first Major north of the border on Sunday afternoon.
With seven professional wins to his name, Fleetwood knows what it takes to win on the big stage, and it's been a work in process ever since he picked up a golf club as a youngster. Starting his golf career in primary school, Fleetwood, affectionately known now for his flowing locks, has certainly put all his eggs in one golfing basket, as having elected to not to go college the Englishman decided to just focus solely on his golf, and it would see him gradually work his way to the top.
Soon his faith in his ability paid off as he rocketed to the top of the world amateur rankings, but having played in the 2009 Walker Cup team, Fleetwood decided to wait before turning professional as he felt like his game was not at a point where he could do himself justice.
Moving into the professional ranks as a 19-year-old, Fleetwood didn't take long to show his quality on the Challenge Tour, as by the end of the 2011 season he was top of that tour, and was then welcomed on to the European Tour. A dream he had been working to.
Now, Fleetwood's development failed to flourish as many had anticipated, and he has been quick to say that life on the European Tour had seen him fall below the standards needed, and in his first year he just escaped relegation from the tour, but this was the catalyst for him to improve his game immeasurably.
A current ranking of 10 in the Official World Golf Rankings, Fleetwood has enjoyed a meteoric rise on European and world shores, but the 2017 Race To Dubai Champion is still chasing his first Major championship, and he will head to Carnoustie this week looking to break his Major duck.
Second in the 2018 US Open, Fleetwood has found it tough in the Open Championship as having missed the cut on his first three attempts at winning the Claret Jug, he finally reached the weekend last year at Royal Birkdale, but could only finish in tied 27th.
Fleetwood elected to not play at last week's Scottish Open stating that he wanted to stay at home to practice his game, but if he can produce his best golf on the Scottish links course where he holds the course record, then he has to be a major contender for what is shaping up to be a fabulous event.
