(FILES) In this file photograph taken on September 20, 2018, Tommy Fleetwood of England plays his shot from the 17th tee during the first round of the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. Fleetwood has proven himself to be one of the world's top players in the last 18 months and came up just short at the US Open this year despite a sensational final-round 63. However, one of his two missed cuts this season came at Le Golf National in the French Open as defending champion. / AFP PHOTO / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / SAM GREENWOOD
Ryder Cup rookie Tommy Fleetwood will hope a message of motivation from Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola can spur him on to success for Team Europe at Le Golf National this week.
Fleetwood, introduced to Guardiola through a mutual friend, was on a Cheshire golf course with the City boss in April when his side were crowned Premier League champions following Manchester United’s defeat by West Brom.
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The pair then struck up a partnership at Wentworth for the celebrity Pro-Am event ahead of the BMW PGA Championship in May, and Guardiola has shown his support for Fleetwood ahead of this week’s showdown with the United States.
“We all have these videos in the room, these motivational videos, and he was one of the guys that sent a message to me,” Fleetwood, 27, told reporters on Tuesday.
“I’m not sure he’s coming over. I’m sure he’s busy at the weekend but he might make it over. But yeah, we always talk quite a lot.
“He’s somebody that’s great to know.”
Guardiola gushed about his first-hand Ryder Cup experience as a fan at the 2012 edition in Medinah, when Europe pulled off a remarkable final-day comeback to stun the Americans on their home patch.
The Spaniard, then on a 12-month sabbatical after leaving his post at Barcelona, was invited to the tournament as a guest of European captain Jose Maria Olazabal.
“He was at the Ryder Cup in Medinah, and he’ll always mention that that’s one of the greatest times he’s had in his life being at that Ryder Cup,” said Fleetwood.
“Yeah, it was a very special time. It has a special place in his heart, the Ryder Cup, and he’s been very supportive through the whole thing.
“Maybe we’ll see him, I don’t know.”
City are due to host Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday, not ruling out the possibility of Guardiola making an appearance for Sunday’s singles.
Source: G Sport
