Matthew Baldwin will go into Round 3 of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth leading the field with a 13-under-par score. The Southport native may be a surprising leader, but he has a strong relationship with European golf and fellow Park Golf Club product Tommy Fleetwood. Let’s explore the two Lancashire natives’ connection.

Matthew Baldwin has not had an easy career. He struggled for form all through his professional career and even became a driver for Amazon to pay the bills. He lost his card only two years ago and had to earn it by participating in several qualifying tournaments. But through all that, he still loves the game of golf and cherishes the friendships he’s made. One such bond he has is with Olympic medalist and childhood partner Tommy Fleetwood.

Along with Matthew Baldwin, Lee Slattery and Tommy Fleetwood all hail from Park Golf Club in Southport, Lancashire. During his time there, Baldwin made a name for himself as a good junior golfer. He won two trophies in 2004 – the European Boys’ Team Championship and the Jacques Léglise Trophy.

Tommy Fleetwood, though, was four years his junior. However, he played with Baldwin as his foursome’s partner, and they had much success that Baldwin is still proud of to this day. “I don’t think we ever lost,” he has proudly said of his pairing with his gifted countryman. The pair also graduated from the European Tour together in 2011.

Fleetwood also said they played a lot together while growing up and on the European Tour. Although Fleetwood has gone on to have much success, winning an Olympic medal as well as having seven DP World Tour wins, Baldwin hopes to catch up to him. He has a good chance to make an impact this weekend at the BMW PGA Championship after equalizing the tournament record score.

Matthew Baldwin’s record-equalling round at Wentworth

Baldwin’s two rounds at the Wentworth Golf Course are some of the lowest-scoring rounds in the history of the BMW PGA Championship. His 65 in the first round and his 66 in the second equaled Paul McGinley’s 2008 rounds. McGinley, however, did not win the tournament, as he scored a 79 in the third round and finished T10 after four rounds. That tournament was won by Miguel Angel Jiminez, who scored 11 under par and won the playoff against Oliver Wilson.

Baldwin this time made birdies on holes 3, 4, 5, 15, and 17, and a bogey on 11. His first-round score was better, as he made 2 more birdies and did not bogey any holes. He used his strengths in the two rounds, which are his driving and approach play. His short game is relatively weak compared to others, but he made several good putts on both days. He will hope to continue his good form and make good his professional career.