UAE has a strong place in the world of golf: Tommy Fleetwood

Tommy Fleetwood is not the UAE’s ambassador for golf but he could well be given the high esteem in which he holds the country’s golfing industry and his love for Dubai, his home away from home.

Speaking at the Emirates Golf Club on Tuesday as he bids to complete back-to-back victories in Dubai this week, Fleetwood stressed on how important the UAE is to the future of professional golf.

"It's very important,” said the golfer who hails from Merseyside in the North West of England.

“I think it's held a place in the world of golf for a long time, and it should do for a long time in the future. I think everybody has great things to say about here (Dubai).

“You have iconic golf courses. People watch tournaments played on these courses year-in, year-out and I think people are very, very passionate about the game,” Fleetwood added.

“I don't know what the numbers are, but there's definitely a strong ratio for people playing the game. I think more golf courses will be built. I think more people will take up the game and I think it will keep growing here.

“So it definitely has a strong place in the world of golf.”

Fleetwood, who became a seven-time winner on the DP World Tour after beating off Rory McIlroy to win last week’s $2.5 million Dubai Invitational at the Dubai Creek Resort, said he always had Dubai in his sights long before he became a resident three years ago.

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Fleetwood, who lives close to his Tommy Fleetwood Academy (TFA) at the DP World Golf Performance Centre at Jumeirah Golf Estates, commented: “I think it's been a big part of (my life) I grew up dreaming of playing on the DP World Tour.

“A lot of my heroes are on this tour and the Middle East has been a big part of that for a long time. Living here, I always get to see a lot here and play a role in the development of young golfers out here and how big the game is for the nation.

“The kids go to school here, so it's obviously got a really nice homey vibe, and I see a lot of faces that I know very well week-in, week-out, and that's always nice,” he added. “I think Dubai and the Middle East has such a strong place in the Tour's calendar.

“Winning is very hard and everybody judges you on the tournaments you've won,” he said. “So you have to play to a high standard, keep practising to a high standard, putting yourself in those positions all the time, and then you get a chance of winning.”