Tommy Fleetwood Keeps Major Dream Alive at The Open 2026

Fleetwood’s Stand After Round 3

Tommy Fleetwood finished the third round at Royal Birkdale with a 1‑under 69, giving him a 54‑hole total of 5‑under 205. He now shares ninth place, five shots behind the lead heading into Sunday. The Englishman reeled off birdies at holes 5, 7 and 11 before two bogeys on the final pair at 15 and 18. “I was within one of the lead at The Open playing on the back nine,” he said, acknowledging how close he came.

Fleetwood praised the field depth, noting three rounds of 62 had been posted in the past two days. “There’s great rounds out there around this golf course, which is good to know,” he added. The crowd reaction was electric as he walked up to each green, describing the ovation as “the most amazing ovation that you can imagine.” He said the fans were “willing me on” as he chased his first major.

Personal Ties to Royal Birkdale

Royal Birkdale holds special memories for Fleetwood, the course that sparked his love for the game. As a child he would hop the fence to play on its fairways, and now the historic links is the stage for his latest bid to win The Open. The 35‑year‑old wore his Everton Football Club away kit— a lemon top and navy pants—during Saturday’s round, blending his golfing roots with club loyalties. He admitted the experience has been “some of the best experiences of my life so far this week,” underscoring how the venue amplifies his dream.

Round‑3 Highlights and Competition

Saturday’s performance featured three birdies and two bogeys, with Fleetwood’s clean stretch until the final four holes. His lone bogey on the 15th came after a mis‑hit, and he over‑compensated on the 18th tee, costing him another stroke. Meanwhile, Ryan Fox posted a 62 on day three, matching the lowest round in men’s major history, adding heat to the chase. Fleetwood still believes a great round tomorrow can change his standing, emphasizing the volatility of the leaderboard.

“I’ve done it most days since I was seven years old, and it still hasn’t stopped. Yeah, that’s what life’s about, right? You daydream and you dream about the biggest things possible and then you try and make it a reality,” Fleetwood said. “To be honest, I’ve been pretty close to it this week. Today was as close as you’re going to get. I was within one of the lead at The Open playing on the back nine.”

Fleetwood reeled off birdies at Nos. 5, 7 and 11 and had a clean card until he bogeyed two of the final four holes at Nos. 15 and 18 as he fought a miss to the right and then over-compensated with his tee shot at 18. Fleetwood hasn’t abandoned his dream yet.

“There’s great rounds out there around this golf course, which is good to know,” he said, referring to three 62s shot in the past two days. “I can still go out and shoot a great round tomorrow and see what happens.”

The 35-year-old Fleetwood rocked a lemon top and navy pants on Saturday, the new away kit of his Everton Football Club. With his piercing blue eyes twinkling, a smile on his face and his long brown hair tucked behind his ears, Fleetwood soaked in the applause raining down on him from his adoring fans as he approached the 18th green.

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“Walking up to every green, it’s like the most amazing ovation that you can imagine,” he said. “Then I sort of acknowledge them in my way because I still want to stay in my bubble in a way, but it just happens that there’s like thousands of people in my bubble with me that are willing me on.”

Fleetwood still believes he can write a thrilling conclusion to the 154^th Open but regardless he has loved every minute of it.

“Life is all about experiences, and I think I’ve had some of the best experiences of my life so far this week,” he said.

Adam Schupak is a senior writer for Golfweek covering the PGA Tour.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Tommy Fleetwood still believes his major dream can come true at The Open 2026