The Ryder Cup love-in between Tommy Fleetwood and Francesco Molinari seemed to generate so much public adoration you half expected this golfing duo to release a commemorative dish cloot to celebrate their relationship. Francesco may be getting a bit jealous now, mind you.
“Without a doubt, I’ve become a better golfer because I’ve spent time with Justin Rose,” said Fleetwood as he lavished praise on his English compatriot ahead of the Turkish Airlines Open. “I might not tell him all the time but I do feel very fortunate that I can call him a friend.” Pass the hankies, please.
Rose was equally as effusive in his praise of Fleetwood in this show of mutual backslapping but there’s serious business to attend to at Regnum Carya.
Rose needs to retain the Turkish Airlines Open crown he won a year ago to return to the lofty perch of world No.1. He’s never successfully defended a title before, though. Meanwhile, Fleetwood, who was last year’s European No.1, needs a big result to reel in the aforementioned Molinari at the top of the current rankings.
“It would be a great double whammy,” said Rose of the possibility of winning and going back to the top of the global order. “Last week [in China]I had the opportunity to defend and in Indonesia I had the opportunity to defend too. It’s something I haven’t been able to do in my career. This would be a great place to knock off two big goals of mine. Once you get a taste of being world No.1, it’s quite nice.”
Fleetwood, the world No.11, could reduce Molinari’s lead in the rankings to around 50,000 points with a win here but the Southport man will not be overly disappointed to relinquish his crown as Europe’s top dog.
On his rise up the golfing order, his success on that front last year was another box ticked. “I’ve got that T-shirt and if I come up a little bit short this time I’ll take comfort from the fact that I’ve given it my best shot,” he said.
“Not retaining the title is down to Frankie’s terrific play. But I haven’t given up. A win would have me breathing down his neck.”
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