Inside Track: Poor start had Fleetwood fighting a losing battle

Forget about Pádraig Harrington being first to drive off, Rory McIlroy gaining fawning support, Scottie Scheffler declaring there’s more to life than golf, or even Shane Lowry going for a Portrush double – Inside Track’s British Open focus was firmly on Tommy Fleetwood.

That’s because the Englishman was given the headline in a piece last week, but, more important, was carrying our money. The odds were skinny for one who hasn’t been in the winners’ enclosure for some time, 25/1, but were still taken in an each-way wager.

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Day One: Tommy’s slow to get into his stride. Doesn’t negotiate Calamity Corner so well. Sinks a few, but misses more, to finish 2-over on 73. The joint-leaders are 3-under, a couple of strokes ahead of McIlroy and Lowry. Tommy will have to improve in the second round.

Day Two: Much better. Tommy’s good soon after flag-fall, getting a birdie at each of the first three holes. He’s now in the red, and there’s none of the leaders going a distance clear.

Finishes with a 68 and is in a confident mood when interviewed. Looking forward to the ‘moving day’, he says.

If Harrington and another former champion, Darren Clarke, decide to stay for the weekend, it will only be to spectate. May they never lose their pleasant demeanor.

Day Three: Tommy moves, but not fast enough. A solid 69 leaves him to 3-under for the tournament, but that’s 11 behind Scheffler. McIlroy has a 66, and is six off the leader. Lowry has a day to forget.

Bad enough to have been docked two strokes the day before, he’s not feeling well. Finishes with his third round in the 70s, looking over his shoulder instead of ahead, as was the case six years ago.

Day Four: How do you go into the final round well off the leader? Go through the motions, or give it your best shot? Tommy chose the latter and was rewarded with his best round, a 67. That had him tied for 16th.

The bookies pay out on several places in golf, but not as far back as that. Scheffler wins, overcoming a wobble at the 8th. Rory’s people give the winner a good reception, and, as you would expect, are generous to their own man as well.