It is not known what film is Ross Fisher’s favourite but there would be a certain serendipity if it turned out to be the classic ‘Some Like It Hot’. For surely there cannot be a truer summation of the English professional’s European Tour career to date.
The 26 year old might have grown up around the Wentworth Club to which he is now attached but the performances which have thrust him into the public eye have had a tendancy to occur in the steamy heat and humidity of foreign climes.
On three of the four occasions Fisher finished in the top ten last year, the tournaments were played under blazing sunshine – in South Africa, China and Singapore – and this year another two top tens have been achieved, once again in South Africa and Dubai.
“I don’t know what it is,” admitted Fisher, who finished a highly creditable 66th on the Order of Merit in his rookie season last year. “It almost helps me in a sense to relax. I am generally quite a quick player so I think when it is hot, I seem to take my time more.”
In Dubai, Fisher felt the temperature rise in a different fashion when he faced the heat of playing alongside two of the greatest players in the world – Ernie Els and Tiger Woods – on consecutive days over the weekend.
But, far from wilting, the Englishman rose to the challenge and held up well under the spotlight to finish fifth outright and even had the audacity to outdrive the World Number One on a couple of occasions in the final round.
“A lot of guys wait five or ten years to play with great, great players and I managed to play with Ernie and Tiger in the space of two days – it was phenomenal,” he said.
“To birdie the last in the final round alongside Tiger was great and the reception I had when I finished was quite overwhelming. It felt like everyone was cheering just for me and I almost felt a little tear in the eye. It was amazing and I really took a lot from that.
“But to know that I can compete with the likes of Ernie and Tiger, as well as guys like Henrik Stenson and Niclas Fasth means a lot and I just want to keep putting myself into those positions.”
Given his previous record, if the tournament is played in sunshine and humidity, there is a fair chance he might.
