‘Ryder Cup like:’ Tommy Fleetwood remembers RBC Canadian Open loss

Tommy Fleetwood had a front-row seat for Nick Taylor’s epic 72-foot eagle putt that etched his identify into Canadian glory.

When that now-famous putt dropped, Taylor grew to become the primary Canadian to win his nation’s nationwide open in 69 years. He did so on the fourth playoff gap, leaving Fleetwood agonizingly wanting his first PGA Tour victory.

However now, one 12 months later, Fleetwood mirrored on that second, an expertise he in comparison with the Ryder Cup.

“I might have liked for it to have gone my approach, however it’s nonetheless very cool to be part of, and the assist that I’ve had from the followers right here and the individuals concerned within the event has been actually, actually nice, so I do recognize that,” Fleetwood stated Wednesday.

“Persons are nonetheless speaking about [last year’s tournament] and possibly will do for a very long time sooner or later.”

Canadians throughout the nation rejoiced when that putt dropped, which The Toronto Star declared because the nation’s sports activities second of the 12 months.

“It was truly on its option to being a Ryder Cup,” Fleetwood defined additional.

Photograph by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Photos

“There have been a few actually cool issues for me. First, the assist for Nick; he had an entire nation behind him, and I feel that was wonderful. I do know what that appears like and it’s nice. They weren’t that unhealthy with me, they only positively didn’t need me to win, which was high quality.”

Humorous sufficient, one month later, at Royal Liverpool in England, Fleetwood, who hails solely an hour from Hoylake, had the hometown crowd behind him. So sure, if anybody is aware of what it appears like, Fleetwood definitely does. It’s possible you’ll recall the cries of “C’mon Tommy-lad” bellow throughout Royal Liverpool regardless of Brian Harman decimating the Open Championship subject.

Nonetheless, Fleetwood didn’t have any followers behind him at Oakdale a 12 months in the past, however he did have just a few gamers stick round to cheer him on.

“A bunch of the European gamers got here out to observe the playoffs, and once I noticed these guys popping out, I believed that was one of many coolest moments, simply having that assist from these guys,” Fleetwood stated.

“For me, that was a extremely touching second, and they might come out and watch me play and assist me as a result of they kind of understood what the environment was.”

Fleetwood, who clinched the successful level for Crew Europe in Rome final 12 months, may really feel the significance of the second final June.

“I feel having tournaments like that and atmospheres like that’s, yeah, an enormous purpose why we do what we do,” Fleetwood stated.

Photograph by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Photos

“These occasions and people moments stay in all people’s reminiscence as gamers, actually, they usually’re very, very cool. It was pleasant.”

As quickly as that putt dropped, Fleetwood knew he needed to get out of the best way. However he lingered round for 10 or quarter-hour earlier than departing for Los Angeles for the U.S. Open.

“Wonderful second. I missed Adam [Hadwin] getting tackled. That may have made me really feel somewhat bit higher watching that one, one thing else to speak about,” Fleetwood added with amusing.

“Look, it was a really special day, and also you don’t get that day by day, however I feel once you do it simply shines a lightweight on the best moments that sport and the sport can provide.”

After all, one of many funniest moments of the PGA Tour got here at Hadwin’s expense. A safety guard tackled Hadwin as he rushed the 18th inexperienced to affix Taylor in celebration. The video of the incident instantly went viral and continues to be talked about in the present day.

However Fleetwood, all jokes apart, knew the significance of the second, even in a time of defeat—a testomony to who he’s as an individual and as a competitor.

“It wasn’t my time, it was Nick’s, and the entire of Canada had wonderful moments to recollect and cherish,” Fleetwood stated.

“You play the event, and once you’re completed, you get your stuff, and you permit, and also you go on to the following one. That’s simply how it’s. I flew to the U.S. Open and tried to leap into that occasion as rapidly as doable. Clearly, I knew I used to be taking part in properly, and I wished to deal with that. However I had a fully implausible time taking part in.”

Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Taking part in Via. You’ll want to try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You’ll be able to comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.