SOUTHPORT, England — England football supporter Matthew Baldwin dozed off Wednesday night with the World Cup semifinal muted. He sought rest before a pivotal moment. Remarkably, upon waking to see England’s 1-0 lead over Argentina, he returned to sleep. Even more impressively, when he awoke again at midnight to witness England’s defeat, he soon reapsed into slumber. One of the most significant tee shots of his career awaited just hours later, with his alarm set for 3:30 a.m.
Golf enthusiasts know the 2026 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale favors Tommy Fleetwood. Yet Baldwin, a 23-year club member living five miles north, considers the course his domain. Travelers across Fleetwood Road are acutely familiar with this shared local heritage.
Like many golf narratives, their journeys began on parallel tracks. Baldwin, five years Fleetwood’s senior, once guided him as a junior foursomes partner. “I was 13,” Fleetwood recalled. “Matt was arguably England’s top player then. I looked up to him deeply.”
By 2013, their trajectories diverged. Baldwin achieved modest DP World Tour success, while Fleetwood consistently contended, securing PGA Tour eligibility. Baldwin’s progress stagnated; Fleetwood’s rose dramatically.
When Royal Birkdale hosted The Open in 2017, Fleetwood’s triumph was palpable—his image adorned town lampposts. Baldwin, a spectator, lamented his absence. “I was gutted,” he admitted. “Same with 2008. I was around.”
Their paths have since widened further. Baldwin fluctuates between tours, briefly working as an Amazon delivery driver. Fleetwood has navigated sponsorship decisions at the game’s pinnacle.
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Fleetwood’s closest Open triumph came in 2019 at Royal Portrush, finishing runner-up to Shane Lowry. A Getty Images photograph from that week captures Fleetwood practicing with Baldwin, the final qualifier—a role Baldwin last fulfilled weeks before this year’s Birkdale appearance.
Baldwin’s Open qualification followed a grueling schedule: a DP World Tour event in Germany and a Challenge Tour round, both missed in cuts. Back in Southport, he mastered Birkdale’s layout before his decisive 6:45 a.m. round. Despite a seven-over-par 72, he reflected on the 5,000 spectators who witnessed his debut at The Open.
“Incredible,” he said. “Terrifying. Overwhelming.” Baldwin added, “This moment will remain etched in my memory forever.”
