A large-scale mural of Tommy Fleetwood has been unveiled in Southport ahead of The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale, which will stage the championship for the 11th time when play begins on 16 July.
Commissioned by Scottsdale Golf and painted by local muralist Paul Curtis, the artwork covers a 50m by 20m wall on the facade of Southport & Birkdale Sports Club, located a short walk from Royal Birkdale. The image draws from a photograph of the 35-year-old Fleetwood competing in the 2023 Ryder Cup. Curtis, whose public works across the region include murals of Jurgen Klopp and Bill Shankly, spent over a fortnight on site after beginning work in mid-June. The piece was officially unveiled on 28 June.
Local Pride
Curtis said the community response during the painting process showed what the project meant locally.
“One of the most rewarding aspects of painting the mural was discovering just how much affection there is for Tommy within the local community,” Curtis said. “People regularly stopped to share stories of knowing him personally or to express how proud they are to see someone from Southport representing the town on the world stage.”
The intense summer heat created practical difficulties. Curtis said paint on his palette would become sticky or dry out completely if left for even a few minutes.
Bradley Stubbs, Marketing Director at Scottsdale Golf, said the project had been more than a year in the making. “Tommy’s connection to Southport makes this a natural fit, and working with a local artist to bring that story to life adds another layer of authenticity,” Stubbs said. “We wanted to create something lasting for the town during a significant moment for golf in the region, and this mural is a reflection of that ambition.”
Fan Hub During Open Week
The mural serves as the centrepiece of a week-long programme at Southport & Birkdale Sports Club. Running from Monday 13 July through Sunday 19 July, Scottsdale Golf will transform the 3,000-capacity venue into a fan destination offering an alternative way to experience championship week outside the course gates.
“This is the largest activation we have undertaken around a Major Championship, and it reflects our ambition to create something that genuinely adds to the week for golf fans,” Stubbs said.
The site is set to include a purpose-built long-putt challenge created with Easigrass and RL Golf Construction, a Box Golf hitting area with two bays, and L.A.B. Golf custom fitting sessions. Also on the agenda are live entertainment, food and drink, big-screen golf coverage, and player appearances. Entry is free throughout the week, and no course ticket is needed.
For fans heading to Southport during Open week, the venue offers a gathering point close to Royal Birkdale, and the Fleetwood mural will remain after the final round.
For more information on Scottsdale Golf, please visit the website atwww.scottsdalegolf.co.uk
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Simon Bale
Simon Bale is the publisher of Golf Today. A low single-figure handicap golfer, he was previously a major shareholder and course reviewer for Top100GolfCourses.com for over a decade, starting in 2010. Through this role, he developed extensive knowledge of golf course design and architecture while playing more than 300 courses worldwide.