Tommy Fleetwood on the scary spider that is weaving webs of magic
English star has been flying since switching putters and gave an insight into the thinking behind his key change
In-form Tommy Fleetwood has opened up on the spider which is helping him weave webs of magic at the Tour Championship.
The English star has enjoyed a superb season of high finishes and hopes to top it off with success in the FedEx Cup play-off at East Lake and Ryder Cup glory.
Fleetwood has yet to win the United States, but he’s posted a string of top results with his putting sensational since switching flat sticks.
The Southport star’s switch to a spider putter earlier in the campaign at the RBC Heritage has paid rich dividends as he jousts week-to-week with the likes of Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy.
Fleetwood has finished in the Top 10 six times since the change and is getting the rewards on the greens for his outstanding tee-to-green performances.
He talked of the switch as he said: “I felt like I was putting pretty good really at the start of the year. It was a little bit inconsistent, but I was still putting okay.
“I got to Hilton Head and I just felt like trying a different putter just for something different, something different to look at. I knew I was stroking it well, I was putting okay, but just a different energy about my putting.
“I got on the putting green with James, with TaylorMade, and we tried a bunch of different putters and I ended up with a Spider, which I’ve never played before. A certain way that the lines worked for me that we’d drawn on that helped me line up and then hit the putt and that’s been great.
“But I always feel like I do a lot of good things on the greens. I’ve worked with Phil [Kenyon] for a long time.
“I’m lucky with the team behind me and the Spider has definitely been a massive help since changing at Hilton Head. I think my putting stats have been really good, and I feel really good on the greens.”
Fleetwood is back in the mix once again at the Tour Championship and has vowed to use the experiences of recent near misses to push his bid.
He said: “I’ve caddied for my kids and I know what I would say to them and I think it’s all about being very clear with what you’re doing, having a great attitude, having a great frame of mind, make sure I’m telling myself all the right things and just commit to those things.
“There’s only 30 players this week. It could be 100, 150, whatever it is tees Sunday and in contention. That’s what everybody wants. I am lucky enough that I get to be one of those guys, so I’m having the time of my life out there and I’m playing great and I’ve got to enjoy it while it’s happening. Might be my time, it might not, but I’ll still have a great time doing it.
“It’s where everybody wants to be when you tee it off each week. You want to be in the final group on Sunday or you want to be in contention. I love the fact that I’m playing so well. I love the fact that I’m getting rewarded for my work by being in this position because we all grind so hard, we all practice so hard, but it’s been so long where you don’t get out of it what you put into it. Golf just isn’t like that.
“I love that I’m up there again and it’s just another chance. It’s another opportunity. It’s another day where I get to go out and do what I love and enjoy it and be in contention and just go and hit the golf shots and what is like the best pressure, if you like. We’re trying to win a golf tournament and do something very special.
“There’s definitely different pressures than that, whether it’s trying to keep your card or whatever it is. Very excited.”