The host with the most? Well, not quite. “I’m not the greatest host at home, my wife is way more outgoing at that stuff than me,” said Tommy Fleetwood as he conjured up images of awkward introductions with arriving guests, a faux pas with a snooty neighbour’s fur coat and some embarrassing, ill-judged ice-breaker with hors d’oeuvre.

Fronting social gatherings in the house may not be his forte but, in his on own gate end of Southport this week, Fleetwood will no doubt do a fine job as host of the Betfred British Masters at Hillside.

The world No.16 is the star ­attraction in his native north-west and with the hoopla comes a weight of expectation that could buckle Southport’s iron pier.

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He’s used to that, of course. In 2017, when the Open Championship was at neighbouring Royal Birkdale, local lad Fleetwood was the focus of global attention. It was perhaps unsurprising that, amid the frenzy, he sagged to a 76 in the first round. The fact he rallied and eventually finished inside the top 30 spoke volumes for his powers of recovery.

“Those were the biggest crowds I’ve ever seen and not everybody gets that feeling, playing an Open in your home town,” reflected the 28-year-old.

“I loved it and I did learn things from that. I wanted to do well so badly and I think a lot of the time when we play, it’s not necessarily nerves that send you off track. It’s actually effort and you try so hard and that’s where I can go wrong a little bit, just putting that extra effort in when you need to keep it flowing and simple.

“I’ve grown since then. That was my first season where I was starting to contend in majors. There are so many things that have happened since then that I’m way more used to now.”

After a four-year sponsorship deal with Sky Sports came to an end last season, the British Masters, which had been in cold storage between 2009 and 2014, was in danger of ­slipping off the schedule again until Fleetwood stepped forward as host.

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With a fine history stretching back to 1946, and a distinguished roll of honour featuring some real greats, the safeguarding of this cherished event was highly important for the European Tour and Fleetwood.

“First and foremost I was happy to keep the tournament on the schedule,” he said. In terms of its place on the schedule, however, it’s not ideal.

The second men’s major of the season, the US PGA Championship at Bethpage Park in New York, takes place next week but Fleetwood is confident his preparations forthat won’t be hampered by commitments here.

“I was happy to be part of this at whatever time of the season it is and with it being here I get an extra week in my own bed and I’m never going to complain about that,” he added.

“I normally have a week off before the majors and I haven’t won one yet so who knows? Maybe playing the British Masters the week before might be the turning point.”