Tommy Fleetwood pledges to continue to chase Open dream after 'special' week at Royal Birkdale

Tommy Fleetwood said the support he received from the Royal Birkdale crowds made The 154th Open "the most special week ever" as he pledged to continue to chase his dream of lifting the Claret Jug.

Born and bred in Southport, the 35-year-old was a fans' favourite pick for the final men's Major Championship as he sought to win his first Major.

After rounds of 69-67-69, Fleetwood arrived into Sunday's final round five shots adrift of 54-hole leader Sam Burns but still hopeful of mounting a final-day title challenge.

While a third birdie of his day at the eighth sparked palpable optimism among the home faithful he could become England's first Open champion since Sir Nick Faldo in 1992, three birdies in a row around the turn from the ninth saw his hopes fizzle out.

But to his credit, he finished birdie-birdie and was met by a hero's reception as he made his way onto the 18th green and after finishing his round of two-under-par 68 in style.

"[Walking down] 18 was pretty emotional," said Fleetwood, who finished in a tie for fourth as Ryan Fox won his first Major with a dramatic final-hole birdie.

"It was just very, very special. [There is] disappointment that I didn't win today or I couldn't get it done when I was in a really good position.

"There's only one person that gets to win it, and my dream of winning The Open will carry on and I'll continue to chase it.

"But walking down 18 and the atmosphere out there, that was beyond stuff that I've dreamt of. That was just stuff that I never imagined.

"The crowds were amazing, and they made it the most special week ever for me, and I can't thank them enough."

After getting to eight under, Fleetwood struck his approach from the fairway at the ninth through the green - something he described as a "terrible mistake".

While the bogeys at the 10th and 11th saw him lose further ground and momentum, before others in the chasing pack began to make their moves, Fleetwood still managed a late flourish to finish alongside defending champion Scottie Scheffler at seven under.

"It was on [a victory]. I was eight under and stood in the middle of the ninth fairway, so I was in a great position, and I was playing really well," added Fleetwood, who returned the ninth top-10 major finish of his career.

"At nine, I hit it in the place that you can't hit it - over the back. It was gusty on that fairway. It was just a terrible mistake."

He added: "People are going to make bogeys. Of course they are; it's tough. Every afternoon it's been the toughest conditions."

"We had a great chance. I just couldn't quite do it."

Fleetwood's next chance to resume his pursuit of winning The Open will come next summer at St Andrews, before the championship returns to the north-west of England at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2028.

"How lucky am I to have three Open venues on the rota where really it's so close to home for me.

"Like really people don't play events that close, let alone hometown and then Lytham and Royal Liverpool. I'm looking forward to that. It's a nice one to look into the future."