Spotlight on Success

Tommy Fleetwood has taken the sporting world by storm. The young golfer has been on the scene for years - and many of us will have heard of him. Rebecca Keegan caught up with him just after he turned 19 years old to find out how he's getting on.

Recently returned from his latest tournament in Australia, Tommy Fleetwood says he's in no mood to rest. ''I've got to get straight back to practise now,'' he tells me. ''But the Australia trip was fantastic - and now I have visited every continent in the world - that's a goal I always wanted to achieve.''

Tommy has been playing golf most of his life, when he was just six years old he picked up his first golf club, and he has never looked back.

The former Scarisbrick Hall School pupil praises his education for helping him achieve what he has to date: ''Scarisbrick Hall School really pushed me to make the best of myself,'' he says, ''I received a scholarship from them, and they were very supportive of me playing golf.

''More than that though, they pushed me academically. They worked me hard in all subjects and it has helped make me a strong person today.''

Tommy's mum, Sue Fleetwood, says: ''We are just so proud of him. He is a great son and brother, he works hard and he's had a vey good education.

''Through his life so many people have shown him support - especially at school - and I can't thank them enough, because as a mum I am looking at a wonderful young man who I know I will be proud of forever.''

Tommy, who is a member at Formby Hall Golf Club, adds ''I just want to do the best I can - I love playing golf, I love the tournaments, I love travelling round the world and I have a fantastic family to support me - I work hard, but I know I am lucky, and appreciate every minute.''

Principal at Scarisbrick Hall School, Eric Borowski, says: ''Tommy started here back when it was known as Kingswood College, and I had the pleasure of 'trying' to teach him mathematics

''We offered him a sports scholarship as we saw his potential in golf as the Tiger Woods of the future.

''He was a pleasure to teach and we are delighted to have played a part in his development into such an upstanding young man - and after all the hard work he came out with very respectable GCSE results - even in Mathematics!''

Tommy is now in training for his next trip, which is to Spain in March for a week. And throughout the area, people have already placed their bets with bookmakers that Tommy will win the Open Golf tournament within the next 10 years.

And is it true you want to be the next Tiger Woods? ''Well that's not a bad goal to have is it?'' he tells me, laughing.