Tommy Fleetwood has revealed that one Premier League manager is a “very good golfer” who “could be champion” if he was fully committed to the sport.
Team Europe on course to retain the Ryder Cup after dominant display
Team Europe are in a very strong position to retain the Ryder Cup, courtesy of a dominant performance over the past two days, which means they need just 2½ more points to secure a victory over the USA.
Fleetwood has been paramount to Europe’s success, cementing himself as the biggest points producer in the entire competition, having won all four of his matches in the team sessions, while also making headlines after clashing with Bryson DeChambeau on day two.
Away from golf, the Englishman is well-known to be a supporter of Everton, but the 34-year-old has also struck up a relationship with a manager of a different Premier League club, who he believes has the ability to be a professional golfer, if he was fully committed to the sport.
In an interview with Manchester City back in 2018, Fleetwood spoke fondly of Pep Guardiola, saying: “We were introduced through a mutual friend because I had always admired Pep and knew he liked a game of golf,
“I don’t think either of us expected to get on with each other as well as we did but we hit it off immediately; his sense of humour is very similar to mine!
“He’s a very good golfer and works hard at practising, too. I don’t think he’s the type to do anything half-halfheartedly. His son plays some great golf as well. I think if Pep took golf up he could be a champion!”
Pep catches the eye at the Icons Series
While Guardiola will certainly have no complaints about his career path, having played for Barcelona, before going on to establish himself as one of the greatest managers of all time, the 54-year-old has proven he could’ve been a handy golf player.
When competing at the Icons Series, the Man City boss chipped in twice from considerable distance, with the second shot from across the water particularly impressive.
Speaking about his love of the sport, Guardiola once said: “I love golf for many reasons. For the environment, the courses you play on. There are no referees there. The rules are for everybody. So when our games are being influenced by the decision of the referee, it is too much. In good ways and bad ways.”
That said, having put in such a dominant performance at Bethpage Black, Team Europe clearly aren’t short of top golfers, with captain Luke Donald almost certain to be lifting the Ryder Cup later today, courtesy of Fleetwood & co.