Blue is the colour, golf is the game, so the old football song didn’t quite go, writes Nick Rodger.
The blue in question this time is Everton and Manchester City. The golfers are Tommy Fleetwood and Pep Guardiola. Fleetwood may be an Everton supporter but he has found inspiration in Man City manager Guardiola.
The two played golf together on the day City won the English Premier League title while they will team up at Wentworth today in the grinning, celebrity-infused Pro-Am ahead of the serious business of the BMW PGA Championship.
Success breeds success and Fleetwood, the current world No 12, has enjoyed plenty of that over the past couple of seasons. His golfing alliance with Guardiola, which stems from the fact that “my wife is a Man City fan”, has been a beneficial one too.
“You can have such a good conversation with somebody that is that successful,” said Fleetwood of the Spaniard. “He wanted to speak to me equally as much as I wanted to speak to him.
“Whether it’s performance based or psychology or whatever part of sport you want to look at. We can have these conversations for four hours while we’re playing golf.
“You always pick things up. Pep has got a really good way about him. He’s a great family man and he’s a very successful person and he loves his craft. He absolutely loves golf too. Those were the things that I liked most.”
Fleetwood, a four-time winner on the European Tour, is back in his homeland after an impressive stint in the US. Having played in events amid the hoopla of Tiger Woods’ presence, the 27-year-old from Southport is hoping to generate his own din at Wentworth over the next few days.
“Tiger Woods has his own era, aura, around him … he’s got his own era, as well,” said Fleetwood as he corrected himself with a smile.
“I was lucky to play with him at the Masters for two days, and there is nothing like the crowds that follow Tiger Woods and what he brings to a golf tournament. He’s pretty much been the face of golf for so long
“I’m really hoping it’s not quiet here this week. I think I might have done something wrong here the last couple years if it is ...”
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