English golfer Tommy Fleetwood has declared his ambition to challenge the dominance of world number one Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy at the summit of men's golf in 2026.
A New Year, A Lofty Goal
Starting the year as the world's third-ranked player, Fleetwood finds himself in the closest position yet to the sport's two clear frontrunners. This follows a successful period where he secured his maiden PGA Tour victory at the Tour Championship and clinched an eighth DP World Tour title in India.
The 34-year-old from Southport begins his new season this Thursday, defending his title at the Dubai Invitational. The field includes Masters champion Rory McIlroy, whom Fleetwood famously edged out to win this biennial event back in 2024.
"A Clear Gap" to the Greats
Fleetwood acknowledges the quality of the players ahead of him but is energised by the challenge of closing the distance. He described Scheffler and McIlroy as future all-time greats and views his current ranking as a springboard.
"I would love to," Fleetwood stated regarding his goal to catch the top two. "There is a clear gap, those two guys are definitely the best golfers in the world. I'm just one of the players in the pack behind that has some catching up to do."
He outlined his approach, focusing on marginal gains: "Look at every aspect of my game, where I can improve, where I can pick the smallest amount of shots up to those guys."
An "Amazing Opportunity" for Fleetwood
The Ryder Cup star, who was unbeaten alongside McIlroy in Europe's historic win at Bethpage Black, emphasised the long-term nature of his quest. He stressed that overhauling the leading pair will not happen overnight but is a central focus.
"Challenging the top two players in the world, I'm not going to say that that's something that I'm not focused on," he confirmed. "That's a long road ahead. That's not going to happen next week or in a couple months' time."
Fleetwood added: "I think it's an amazing opportunity. To be the next guy at this current time... I just think it's very, very cool and very special and I just love the fact that I am in the mix."
Meanwhile, world number two McIlroy will play his opening rounds in Dubai with compatriot Shane Lowry. The tournament will see players and staff wearing black armbands in memory of Emanuele Galeppini, the incoming Under-16s Captain at Dubai Creek Club, and the 40 others who died in the Crans Montana tragedy on New Year's Day.
Elsewhere, Scottie Scheffler is scheduled to begin his 2026 season at The American Express in California on January 22nd.
