Ryder Cup star Tommy Fleetwood voiced his pride in the launch of the Tommy Fleetwood International Series presented by DP World, an exciting new initiative to expand youth golf opportunities in the UAE.
The three-event series in partnership with DP World and the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) aims to make college golf scholarship opportunities more accessible to AJGA’s international members.
The first tournament got underway this week at Jumeirah Golf Estates, with the next scheduled for November at Al Hamra before the third and final tournament takes place at Trump International Golf Club in February.
“I’m very proud we can all come together and bring something like this here,” said Fleetwood, who is currently ranked 10th in the world. “If you just look at how excited all the kids are that are playing it just shows what we’re doing.
“It’s an amazing opportunity for us all. I think having the association with the AJGA and World Amateur Golf Ranking points, being able to have events that kids from anywhere can look at it and think ‘I would love play that AJGA event’ over in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or wherever that may be is great for us. It’s another level of what we are trying to do.
“It’s more opportunities for kids in the area. Golf’s so popular, so many people love the game. So many people are putting so much time into it, so this is giving them ways to open their eyes to events that are worldwide.
“I’ve been here two years, watching the coaching system grow, watching the whole ecosystem grow all the time. This is another example of that. To be part of that and helping people improve, hopefully to higher and higher levels means a lot to me.”
The Englishman has spent the vast majority of his life at the elite level of the game, but he also knows better than anyone what it takes for a young junior to become an established professional.
“I have done these kind of events as a junior and as an amateur so I know what it feels like,” he added. “Obviously, I’ve not done it for a long time, but I remember all of those feelings.
“I know everything that they’ll be going through and what they’ll be dreaming of as well in the future as well. I have all that experience that I feel like I can pass on to some. I love being part of the game, and I love seeing it at this level.”
Fleetwood himself is next set to tee it up at the upcoming Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship before finishing off the year at the DP World Tour Championship next month.
Read more from this interview with Tommy Fleetwood in our upcoming November magazine.
