TOMMY Fleetwood admits 2020 has been “a disappointing year” for him on the golf course.

However, the Holmes Chapel resident says merely getting to play at all this year has been a blessing given how the Covid-19 pandemic has turned the world upside down.

Fleetwood was in contention to win the European Tour’s Race to Dubai and went into the weekend’s season-ending DP World Tour Championships needing to win to stay in contention.

However, he could only manage a tie for 10th place as he watched two compatriots pick up the main prizes.

Matt Fitzpatrick won the tournament while veteran Lee Westwood picked up the overall Race To Dubai title as the European Tour’s leading player for 2020.

Fleetwood did not add to his five European Tour victories this year but did finish second in two tournaments.

Even so, he admitted his year had fallen well below expectations.

Given what has gone on around the world, however, he says the most important thing is that he feels lucky that his family has remained safe.

“It was a disappointing year on the golf course. There’s no other way to say it,” he said addressing fans on his Twitter account.

“There’s certain things I have struggled with but on the positive side, I know what I need to work on and its nothing dramatic.

“I’m looking to make marginal gains that mean I can play at my best more regularly and convert more victories.

“This year, I feel I should have won at the Honda Classic, in Portugal and in Scotland. I left shots out there at those events.

“Those are the things I need to improve and I’m glad I only have a few weeks to wait until the new season starts in Abu Dhabi because I want to get going again.

“Watching Fitz and Westy lift their trophies makes me hungry to get back at it and put my name on huge titles again.

“Obviously what I’m going to say is related to the privileged world of golf we live in.

“It goes without saying the world has been through hell this year and the most important thing for me in all of that is my family have remained safe and that is always the main priority.

“We’ve been lucky.

“Thank you for all the support you give me. It’s very much appreciated and never taken for granted.”