Coach recalls 'spectacular' golfer Tommy Fleetwood's talent as a child

As golfer Tommy Fleetwood returns home to Southport to compete in the 154th Open Championship, his former coach has shared memories of the ace's younger years.

Norman Marshall began coaching the now 35-year-old at Formby Hall, in Formby, Merseyside, when the keen young golf fanatic was aged just six.

Since then Fleetwood has gone on to play alongside the game's greats, collecting a flurry of trophies including three Ryder Cups for Europe and a silver Olympic medal for Great Britain.

Now, more than two decades on, Marshall, 57, who co-runs the Tommy Fleetwood Academy alongside Fleetwood, said it would be "the pinnacle of my career as a coach" to see his former pupil securing The Open title at Royal Birkdale.

"He was pretty spectacular," Marshall said.

"Once he was eight years old he could hold his own against any junior field. It was particularly unusual in that day and age."

He said Fleetwood's pure passion for golf was what made the difference.

"When I realised how much he loved golf, that's the differentiating factor," he said.

"When you realise how much a kid loves it - as almost an obsession - you need that first before anything else.

"The amount of practice he did in winter showed that obsession.

"So in summer he'd be playing a lot, but in winter he was at the golf range - all the time, any weather, playing golf with his dad, hitting balls.

"You just couldn't stop him."

Marshall said he remembers Fleetwood coming last at his first ever tournament, at the age of seven.

"He was crushed," Marshall said.

"He was actually playing in the much, much older field off tees that were really, really far back.

"So, it wasn't an abysmal performance, it was just a competition geared for teenagers and he was only young.

"But the deciding factor was that he was back the next week, so he had that resilience and determination."

On Fleetwood's character, Marshall said: "He was relatively quiet, but he wasn't lacking in confidence - a steady, calm and mature kid.

"He held your gaze when you were talking to him, but he was friendly and an easy smile, and not a loud person."

Marshall continued: "It would be absolutely incredible to see him win.

"It would be the pinnacle of my career as a coach, it would almost put the full stop on it.

"Any golfer from the UK would put the British Open of the four majors at the absolute pedestal of of their dreams.

"And if you come from Southport, to win it at Birkdale would be the pinnacle of that.

"It's a lot of pressure on him and I want him to be relaxed.

"I have told Tommy he has already won at life - everything that's actually important, like character traits, you are a winner and that's what counts."

Fleetwood's former Drama teacher Erica May met and taught the then 14-year-old at Scarisbrick Hall School.

"He was brilliant and he was very, very talented," the 63-year-old said.

"Had he not wanted to pursue his golf, he could easily have had a career in acting.

"He was very, very good."

However, while Fleetwood would eventually get an A-star grade in his drama GCSE, according to May he was reluctant at first to put in the hours outside of the classroom.

"It's funny actually I remember giving out his homework for the first time when he first started the course at 14, and he looked at me with horror, and said 'I don't do homework'," May recalled.

"I asked him what he did do if he didn't do homework. 'Golf', he told me.

"It's a bit embarrassing really thinking back to it now but I said well that's all very nice Tommy, but if the golf thing doesn't work out for you you still need to do other studies anyway."

May said from then on Fleetwood did his homework each week but told her "I only do this for you, you know".

"I'd say, you're not doing it for me, Tommy, you're doing it for yourself," she said.

"He was confident, comfortable, funny - and extremely easy to teach.

"I think the fact that he chose to pursue the golf line is golf's gain and acting's loss.

"But I'm sure he did the right thing."

She added: "It would be a dream for Tommy to win The Open, a dream for us all really, but we couldn't be prouder of him anyway."

A spokesperson at Scarisbrick Hall School said: "Everyone at Scarisbrick Hall School is immensely proud of everything Tommy has achieved and he is inspiring a new generation of golfers at the school.

"We wish him luck and every success as he competes for the Claret Jug on home soil at Royal Birkdale."

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