Fleetwood Aims To Bridge The Gap With Scheffler And McIlroy In 2026

Tommy Fleetwood accepts that Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy currently sit apart from the PGA Tour chase, yet Fleetwood enters the Dubai Invitational aiming to close that gap and stay among golf’s elite after climbing to third in the world rankings following a breakthrough 2025 season.

Asked by Sky Sports about challenging the leading pair in 2026, Fleetwood said: "I would love to. There is a clear gap, those two guys are definitely the best golfers in the world. I am just one of the players in the pack behind that has some catching up to do there. I look at every aspect of my game, where I can improve, where I can pick the smallest amount of shots up to those guys, but it is an amazing challenge, if you think of it like that. "

Fleetwood’s

world ranking surge follows a long wait for silverware on the PGA Tour. The English player needed 164 starts before finally claiming a PGA Tour victory, achieving that milestone at the Tour Championship at East Lake in August 2025, a result that also secured the FedEx Cup crown and changed the outlook for the following season.

That success capped a season in which Fleetwood moved from consistent contender to proven winner, then carried that confidence into team golf. The new status shapes Fleetwood’s goals ahead of the Dubai Invitational, as holding at least third place in the rankings has become a clear target while also pursuing more victories on the PGA Tour.

Fleetwood’s strong form continued at the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, where Fleetwood delivered four points, the highest total by any competitor. Those performances helped Europe secure a first away victory over the United States in 13 years, underlining Fleetwood’s value in high-pressure situations following his FedEx Cup success.

Major championships told a different story for Fleetwood across 2025, with some progress but also frustration. Fleetwood missed the cut at the U.S. Open, finished tied 16th at the Open, placed 21st at the Masters and ended 41st at the PGA Championship, results Fleetwood views as a platform rather than a final standard.

Major championship 2025	Result
Masters	21st
PGA Championship	41st
U.S. Open	Missed cut
The Open	Tied 16th

Tommy Fleetwood, PGA Tour goals and mindset

Fleetwood has already spoken publicly about the significance of that first PGA Tour win and the change in mindset that followed, stressing a wish to treat the victory as the start of a new phase rather than a final destination in a career that now carries higher expectations across the PGA Tour schedule.

This chapter of my life is closed now, it was called The First PGA tour win Thank you to everyone who supported me from the bottom of my heart, it means so much. Im honestly so excited to get back to work and the next chapter!! See you at Wentworth. pic.twitter.com/9scDRDPiuDTommy Fleetwood (@TommyFleetwood1) August 26, 2025

Looking ahead, Fleetwood believes the next 12 months can bring further development at the majors while Fleetwood measures progress against Scheffler and McIlroy, viewing each small gain as important. The Dubai Invitational offers another test of that standard as Fleetwood tries to maintain momentum at the top end of the PGA Tour ranking.

Fleetwood also reflected on what it means to hold a new career-high position, saying: "I am starting the year in a different position than I have ever been, as world number three. I think that is very cool and very exciting, to have to think about trying to maintain the level that I have reached thereand that is the first thing to do. "