Former PGA Tour pro: What Tommy Fleetwood needs to do to challenge Rory and Scottie

Former PGA Tour member turned on-course commentator and analyst Smylie Kaufman isn't quite ready to declare Tommy Fleetwood is on the same level as the top-ranked Scottie Scheffler and Masters champion Rory McIlroy. 

Fleetwood has undoubtedly had the best year of his career to date, finally entering the winner's circle in the United States on his 164th attempt at the Tour Championship. 

The 34-year-old Englishman was also Europe's top points scorer in their incredible away victory over Team USA at last month's Ryder Cup in New York. 

And he recently added his eighth DP World Tour title to his resume in Delhi. The win has lifted him to a career-high fifth in the world rankings. 

Only Scheffler, McIlroy, Xander Schauffele and Russell Henley are ranked above Fleetwood. 

The next step for Fleetwood is obviously go head-to-head with Scheffler and McIlroy in more signature events on the PGA Tour and even secure his first major championship title. 

Fleetwood recently told reporters he's concentrating on finishing this season strong before he thinks about setting goals for the 2026 campaign. 

Kaufman, though, believes Fleetwood should concentrate on one aspect of his game. 

Driving. 

"I feel like those two are in a category by themselves," Kaufman said of McIlroy and Scheffler on the most recent edition of his podcast. 

"I think Tommy is definitely in that next tier of guys who, I think, have the capability to win major championships, win signature events, potentially can play their way into being solidified third player in the world from a world ranking standpoint. 

"I think everybody has work to do to chase down, obviously Scottie's got a three touchdown lead, but maybe if Rory were to have an off year, to become the second best player in the world. Tommy's definitely in that category for certain, for how he's played."

Kaufman added: "I'm not ready to pronounce that he's in this big three category. I hate to use age as a reason why. His consistency, for certain, the way he hits the golf ball, the feeling that he has no weaknesses. 

"I will say that, yes, he does hit it fairly far, but is he gaining strokes off the tee like Scottie and Rory do with their length? Over the course of an entire year, I still feel like that's such an important stat.

"I know he hits a lot of fairways, but the more distance he can pick up, the better it will be for Tommy because I think to be the best player in the world, you can't be just a little bit above average when it comes to distance off the tee."

Kaufman is right to point out that this area may be a weakness in Fleetwood's game. 

He currently ranks 116th in this category. South Africa's Aldrich Potgieter is currently the Tour's longest hitter, leading McIlroy by a smidge. 

Interestingly, Scheffler is not even inside the top-10:

Fleetwood's biggest strength is his approach play, where he ranks second overall. He is also in the top 20 for putting, 25th for driving accuracy and is a wizard with a wedge, sitting inside 14th for approaches inside 100 yards. 

What is Tommy Fleetwood's best chance for a major win in 2026?

Fleetwood will naturally fancy his chances at Augusta National next April. 

But elsewhere, he will be licking his lips at the venues for two major events. 

The US Open returns to Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, seven years after he finished second to Brooks Koepka in the US Open. 

He fired a final-round 63 in the 2018 US Open at Shinnecock.

The 2026 PGA Championship will be held at Aronimink Golf Club, a venue Fleetwood fired back-to-back 62s in 2018.

Should Fleetwood avoid injury, he will also make his 12th Open appearance at Royal Birkdale. 

Fleetwood finished 27th when golf's oldest major was held at Birkdale in 2017. He finished runner-up at the 2019 Open.