With Tommy Fleetwood being named as the captain of the Great Britain and NI team for the new Hero Cup, not only has he become one of the biggest sporting names in Merseyside but also in European and world golf.

Here we look at some of the top players that have hailed from England’s ‘golf coast’:

7. Lee Slattery

Slattery is the oldest player on the list, but with two wins on the DP world tour and seven in total he is also one of the most successful. Now in the twilight of his career, the Southport born golfer has slipped down the Official World Golf Rankings to 699th after a previous high of 111th.

6. Matt Baldwin

An unfamiliar name to many, Baldwin recently regained his tour card on the DP World Tour. After turning professional in 2008 it was in the early years of Baldwin’s career where he made an impression. In his rookie year on tour, the Liverpool fan made the cut at both the U.S. Open and The Open Championship.

Baldwin has found himself floating around in recent years between the DP World Tour and European challenge tour. He currently sits 529th in the OWGR.

Baldwin opening up off the tee at the French Open. Credit: Cyrille Bertin (CC)

5. Matthew Jordan

The youngest of the golfers on the list, Jordan is also one of the most exciting. Turning pro in 2018, the Royal Liverpool member won the Italian Challenge Open Eneos Motor Oil on only his seventh start on the Euro Challenge tour.

The Wirral native went on to get another six top 10’s in his maiden season, helping him graduate to the DP World Tour.

The 26-year-old’s best finish to date is finishing tied 15th at the Betfred UK master where he set a course record of 63 at Hillside Golf Club, Southport. He currently ranks 319th in the world.

4. Paul Waring

Another Wirral native, Waring had a stellar amateur career in which he won the 2005 English Amateur Championship.

The Birkenhead born golfer then turned pro in 2007 at the first time of asking. However, the great amateur pedigree didn’t translate into success for Bromborough GC member, with no wins until his 200th start at the 2018 Nordea Masters.

So far this season Waring has had one of his best on tour, with four top 30’s in his last five events, with a narrow runner up spot at the Mallorca Golf Open. The Englishman is currently ranked 209th in the world.

3. Nick Dougherty

Better known these days as an on-screen presenter for Sky Sports Golf, Dougherty had a very successful career before results tailed off.

The Bootle-born player won the prestigious Rookie of the Year award in 2002 on the European tour and success soon followed. In 2005 Dougherty got his first of three career wins at the Caltex Masters.

He would go on to win two of the biggest tournaments on the tour by way of the Alfred Dunhill Links in 2007 and the BMW International open in 2009.

Dougherty retired in 2016 after losing his tour card four years prior. The Liverpudlian would finish his career with his highest world ranking being 46th.

2. John Ball

Ball is considered the first great amateur golfer. Born in Hoylake in 1861, Ball would go on to win an amazing eight British Amateur titles with his last coming at the age of 51.

But the crowning glory of his career came in 1890 when he became the first Englishman to win The Open Championship. Ball was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1977, 37 years after his death in 1940.

There is a blue plaque in place at Royal Liverpool to commemorate his achievements.

1.Tommy Fleetwood

The most notable name to come out of Merseyside in golf is Tommy Fleetwood. Born in Southport, Fleetwood learnt to play golf at Formby Hall Golf Club.

The Everton fan is by far the most successful golfer on the list with seven professional wins, and over $14 million in career earnings.

Considered one of the best ball strikers in golf, the amiable Fleetwood sits 23rd in the world after reaching a career high of 9th in 2019.

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