Tommy Fleetwood is looking to ensure he puts himself in multiple positions to win, starting with the live-streamed Hero Dubai Desert Classic Sky Sports from Thursday.
Fleetwood had a remarkable 2024, finishing in the top 10 in the World Rankings and winning the Dubai Championship, but he is often heralded as a player who is often just shy of the big wins.
Indeed, the Englishman is aware that he needs more consistency throughout the year to get himself into the mix on the final day, a Rory McIlroy trait he believes makes him such a “big” winner.
“Yeah, it's hard to win. You can look at any number of things that would have produced more wins, but I think, you know, at the end of the day, trying to stay as consistent as possible, putting myself in those positions,” Fleetwood said .
“I think one of the greatest winners of my generation, if not the greatest, is Rory (McIlroy).
“Rory puts himself in those situations all the time and wins a lot as a result. I love watching the best players and the levels of consistency they have and I know you watch someone like Scottie Scheffler and the season he had, which is ridiculously awesome, of course it is.
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“But just watching the guys who are fighting all the time and then dealing with those situations and then picking events as they go, I think that's the kind of player I want to be.
McIlroy has already won the Hero Dubai Desert Classic more times than any other player, with last year's victory his fourth title. This week he has the chance to extend his own record and become the first player to lift the Dallah Trophy.
The Northern Irishman has not finished outside the top 10 at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic in nine appearances since his victory in 2009 to claim his first DP World Tour title. He also became the tournament's youngest champion there, finishing sixth a year later, 10th in 2011, fifth in 2012 and ninth in 2014 before winning by three shots in 2015.
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Now, Fleetwood is looking to channel McIlroy's winning mentality to try and lift the trophy himself and start 2025 by winning the first of the DP World Tour's Rolex Series events.
“I want to continue to improve my all-around game and put myself in a position to win as many times as possible and then win as a result,” he continued.
“I mean, of course, like I said, you can look anytime you're in a fight, you look, Oh, I could have done this better, or I could have done that better, or I hit a bad shot there or it could have been different, but just keep being consistent, put yourself out there and hopefully my time will continue to come more often as time goes on.”
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While Fleetwood calls Dubai home and has never missed an event in his professional career, he can only boast two top 10 finishes at Emirates Golf Club.
In 2025, after 14 years of trying, he wants that to change a lot with a victory.
“Yeah, I like the look of the trophy for this tournament, and I've never actually played it every year since my first year on tour. I always love coming back here. I absolutely love the golf course,” Fleetwood added.
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“I haven't been able to put myself in a position to compete for this tournament yet, but I'll keep trying. And I think everyone loves this time of year here.
“I think everyone is starting to feel fresh, with a really positive attitude. I think the course, like I said, is great, and I think Dubai as a city, everyone just likes to come back and feel very familiar with the place because it's played such a role over the years in the life of the tour.
“Yeah, I look at all the pictures of them holding the trophy and I always want to be in one, but I just haven't gotten close enough yet.”
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How can I watch the action?
Sky Sports will have extended coverage of all four rounds of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, with featured groups live from 4am each morning Sky Sports Golf and bringing the bonus action before the main action.
Full coverage begins at 7.30am on Thursday and Friday before a 7am start over the weekend, with all four rounds of the PGA Tour American Express and Latin America Amateur Championship also broadcast on Sky Sports. Stream DP world tour, major items and more from NOW.