Why Rory McIlroy is delighted to see nice guy Tommy Fleetwood show he can be a p****

Since breaking his duck on the PGA Tour in style by winning the US circuit’s Tour Championship in Atlanta in August to land the FedEx Cup, Fleetwood has been riding on the crest of a wave on both sides of the Atlantic.

The Englishman was Europe’s star man, picking up four points of five, in a Ryder Cup win at Bethpage Black, won the inaugural DP World India Championship last month before losing out in a play-off to Aaron Rai in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship last weekend.

Maintaining his eye-catching run of form, world No 4 Fleetwood opened with a seven-under-par 65 in the DP World Tour Championship, the circuit’s season finale at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, to sit one shot off the lead, held by American Michael Kim.

Defending champion McIlroy, who is bidding to land the Race to Dubai title for a seventh time, made a strong start as well with a 66 to sit joint-third, admitting afterwards that he has been mighty impressed with Fleetwood this year.

“Absoplutely, yeah,” he replied to being asked if he thought the Southport man, one of his closest friends in the game, was playing the best golf of his career at the moment. “I think he’s played similar golf before, but he is now finishing it off. He’s had an unbelievable summer.

“With the close calls (being pipped in both the Travelers Championship and FedEx St Jude Championship) and then finally getting the job at Atlanta and obviously has an unbelievable Ryder Cup - I am very lucky he’s my foursomes partner. Then the win in India and playing well again last week in Abu Dhabi.

“Yeah, he’s been a world-class player for a long time, but I feel the close calls this year, then finally getting over that hurdle, I feel like he’s elevated himself to that next level.”

McIlroy hesitated for a few seconds before replying to being asked if the change of gear seemed obvious to him and what he saw being different in Fleetwood.

“I think seeing his reaction to winning it Atlanta,” he said. “I would never say I questioned how much he wanted. But, like, he’s always been so nice….so nice! Then I’m like ‘is he too nice?’ Because you need to have that little bit of edge, p**ck in you, whatever you want to call it. I know I have it and I feel like that’s what you need to win.

“I think it is harder for Tommy to feel that than others because of how nice and empathetic he is. But I feel like he has developed that little bit of edge this year.”

On a day when Kim, winner of the Open de France earlier this year, marked his debut in this event with an impressive bogey-free effort, McIlroy signed for seven birdies and one bogey as he carded his 15th round of 66 or better on this course.

With Marco Penge, his playing partner and closest challenge in the Race to Dubai title, struggling to a 74 and Tyrrell Hatton, the only other player who can climb above McIlroy on the points list on Sunday night, having to settle for a 70, it was a productive day for the world No 2.

“Yeah, I’ve shot a really good score today and it’s put me right in the thick of things with three days to go,” he said. “So I’ll focus on trying to win the tournament and, if I play well enough, the season-long titles are a byproduct of the good play in tournaments. I’m 100 per cent focused on what I am doing. I’m not playing with Marco tomorrow, so I can maybe focus even more on my own game and try to get right up there with a chance to win the tournament.”

Fleetwood, who lives on the Jumeirah Golf Estates, where a Golf Academy also bears his name, opened with his best score in the event. “Yeah, I feel like it was a really good day,” he said of a bogey-free effort. “I didn't think it was that easy. Drove it as well as I have driven it all year. I also made two or three good par saves, which is key.”