In response to Information Golf, which measures efficiency throughout all excursions, solely three gamers are ranked greater than Fleetwood – defending champion Scottie Scheffler, McIlroy and world quantity three Fitzpatrick.
The 31-year-old has received thrice on the PGA Tour this yr and shared third place on the hyperlinks turf of the Renaissance Membership ultimately week’s Scottish Open.
“It is one other confidence booster to convey into this week,” Fitzpatrick instructed BBC Sport.
“It is the ultimate main of the yr, so you are going to give it a very good push.”
The South Yorkshireman has used Birkdale on many events to hone hyperlinks preparations for previous Opens. However he admits to being not sure over what side of his recreation can be most significant this week.
“I’ve performed the golf course loads, however I am unable to put my finger on what essentially is required,” mentioned the 2022 US Open winner.
“I really feel just like the fairways this yr look a little bit bit tighter than most hyperlinks golf programs. And I believe for me, that is most likely going to play the most important half into it.
“I believe in the event you may give your self alternatives to hit the greens, that is going to be an important factor.”
English world quantity ones Lee Westwood and Luke Donald have come and gone from Opens with out lifting golf’s most historic trophy. Rose is one other to scale the highest of the rankings however has not added a house main to his 2013 US Open victory.
The 45-year-old comes full circle this week to the scene of his fourth positioned end as a 17-year-old novice in 1998, which was capped by a sensational gap out for birdie on the final.
Remarkably it then stood as his greatest Open efficiency for 20 years earlier than charging by way of the sphere to complete runner-up to Francesco Molinari at Carnoustie in 2018.
Rose shared runner-up honours once more two years in the past and continues to problem for golf’s greatest titles. May this be the yr? What a narrative it will be had been he to emerge victorious.
However what does it take to do this?
Faldo places it bluntly. “Guess the underside line is…I may hold my focus and nerve all 4 days to complete it off,” he messaged once I requested for the key sauce.
These had been traits Rai confirmed in abundance solely final Might to grow to be the primary Englishman win the US PGA in additional than a century at Aronimink.
Rai emulating Jim Barnes in 1919 proves Fleetwood right, these longstanding data and anomalies could be damaged.
Excitingly, among the many greatest obstacles to English success are fellow UK gamers as a result of the likes of McIlroy and Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre are additionally robust contenders.
Englishmen Tyrrell Hatton and Alex Fitzpatrick are additionally able to mounting robust challenges.
So whisper it, whereas England’s semi-final reaching footballers are giving World Cup followers loads to be enthusiastic about, right here on Merseyside the nation’s golfers may do one thing related.
