Tommy Fleetwood is cautiously optimistic ahead of his bid for a maiden major title at The Open Championship but isn’t putting too much pressure on himself.

Fleetwood is 29.00 to win The Open Championship outright, while Rory McIlroy is priced at 9.50. The 28-year-old Englishman managed a tie for 12th at The Open in 2018 and secured the best results of his career in all four majors last year, including second place at the US Open.

Fleetwood is yet to finish in the top 30 in any of the three majors so far in 2019 and warmed up for The Open with a tie for 23rd in the Irish Open. However, he feels he remains a contender for the Claret Jug ahead of the tournament at Royal Portrush.

“It’s easy to say it’s disappointing but there’s no disasters going on,” said Fleetwood on his performance in the Irish Open, as reported by the Belfast Telegraph. “I’ve not got loads out of the week and it’s easy to be disappointed but you have to keep perspective.

“It’s not like I’ve missed the cut by a mile and am going home trying to reinvent the wheel. “I felt more comfortable with my long game and I don’t like being that person who is frustrated because I feel I have a good sense of what’s good and bad. “When you know you’re capable of more and you’re not quite doing it, it’s difficult.

“The Open is around the corner but whether it happens next week or down the line, there’s always massive things to play for and you just have to be patient.”