Tommy Fleetwood: English golfer says ‘I have to be like Rory McIlroy’ ahead of Hero Dubai Desert Classic | Golf news
Tommy Fleetwood wants to make sure he puts himself in more positions to win, starting with the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, which is being broadcast live Sky Sports from Thursday.
Fleetwood had an exceptional year in 2024, finishing in the top 10 in the world rankings and winning the Dubai Championship, but he is often touted as a player who often just shy of the big wins.
Indeed, the Englishman is aware that he needs more consistency throughout the year to make the final day combine, a trait in Rory McIlroy that he believes makes him such a “big” winner.
“Yeah, it’s hard to win. You can look at any number of things that would produce more wins, but I think, you know, ultimately, trying to stay as consistent as possible, put yourself in those positions as much as possible,” Fleetwood said.
“I think one of the greatest winners of my generation, well, if not the greatest, is Rory (McIlroy).
“Rory puts himself in those situations all the time and wins a lot as a result. I love watching the best players and the levels of consistency they have and I know you look at someone like Scottie Scheffler and the season he had, which is ridiculously awesome, of course it is.
“But just watching the guys who fight all the time and then deal with those situations and then pick events on the fly, I think that’s the kind of player I want to be.
McIlroy has already won the Hero Dubai Desert Classic more times than any other player, and last year’s victory was his fourth title. This week he has the chance to extend his own record and become the first player to lift the Dallah Trophy.
The Northern Irishman has not finished outside the top 10 at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in nine appearances since his victory in 2009, which clinched his first DP World Tour title. He also became the tournament’s youngest champion there, finishing sixth a year later, 10th in 2011, fifth in 2012 and ninth in 2014 before winning by three shots in 2015.
Now Fleetwood wants to channel McIlroy’s winning mentality to try to lift the trophy himself and start 2025 by winning the first DP World Tour Rolex Series event.
“I want to continue to improve my all-around game and put myself in a position to win as many times as possible and then win as a result,” he continued.
“I mean, of course, like I said, you can look whenever you’re in a conflict, you look, Oh, I could have done this better, or I could have done that better, or I hit a bad shot or it could have gone differently, but you just keep going be consistent, put myself out there, and hopefully my time will come more often as time goes on.”
While Fleetwood calls Dubai home and has never missed an event in his professional career, he can only boast two top 10 finishes at Emirates Golf Club.
In 2025, after 14 years of trying, he wants to change that by winning.
“Yeah, I like the look of the trophy for this tournament and I’ve never actually played it every year since my first year on the tour. I’m always happy to come back here. I absolutely love the golf course,” Fleetwood added.
“I just haven’t been able to put myself in a position to contend for this tournament yet, but I’ll keep trying. And I think everyone loves this time of year here.
“I think everybody’s starting to feel fresh, with a really positive attitude. I think the course, like I said, is great, and I think Dubai as a city, everybody just likes to come back and it’s just a familiar place because it played such a role during year in the life of the tour.
“So yeah, I look at all the pictures of them holding the trophy and I always want to be in one, but I just haven’t gotten close enough yet.”
How can I watch the action?
Sky Sports will have extended coverage from all four rounds of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, with featured groups live from 4am each morning Sky Sports Golf and bringing the bonus action before the main action.
Full coverage starts at 7.30am on Thursday and Friday before kicking off from 7am over the weekend, with all four rounds of the American Express PGA Tour and the Latin American Amateur Championship also live on Sky Sports. Stream the DP world tour, major competitions and more from NOW.
