He’s won eight times around the world. Until Sunday, Englishman Tommy Fleetwood had never hoisted a PGA Tour trophy of his own. And it was not just any piece of hardware, but the silver chalice awarded to the FedEx Cup Champion.
On this memorable Sunday, 34-year-old Fleetwood won the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club, in front of thousands of fans chanting Tommy! Tommy! Tommy!
One would expect him to savor this moment. That warm reception from American golf fans isn’t likely to occur next month, when he plays for Europe in the Ryder Cup in New York.
Fleetwood finished 18 under par by going two under for a 68. That was good for a three-shot victory over both Patrick Cantlay (71) and Russell Henley (69). Last year’s winner, Scottie Scheffler, finished in a three-way tie for fourth with Corey Conners and Cameron Young at minus 14.
But this moment belongs to the World No. 10, who proudly flies the colors of the Union Jack and has represented the United Kingdom so well over his 164 PGA Tour starts. Only now has he finally finished first on the PGA Tour. Fleetwood’s well-documented 44 top 10 finishes and six painful runners-up seem like ancient history.
“I’m proud of what I’ve done before. Whether I’ve won or not, I’ve still been proud of my career so far, knowing that I still have a long way to go and lots of learning. This doesn’t change that,” Fleetwood said after the victory. “This is hopefully just one win, the first of many to come. You cannot win plenty if you don’t win the first one.”
It’s that attitude—chin up, as they would say in England—that has endeared him to so many fans around the world.
When asked about still chasing his first Tour win last Tuesday, Fleetwood took it in stride. He said he’s just glad to play well enough to be in the conversation each week. And that he has. He tied for third two weeks ago in Memphis to start the playoffs and tied for fourth last week at the BMW. Few will forget him losing by a shot to U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Keegan Bradley at this summer’s Travelers Championship after leading by two with three holes to play.
“You just keep learning, don’t you? I think this one, I guess there was Travelers, there was Memphis, obviously plenty before, Fleetwood said. “This probably wasn’t the most comfortable I’ve been here because, as they rack up, you obviously start to think of the things.”
Fleetwood and Cantlay began the day tied for the lead; however, the 33-year-old Californian opened with a bogey and double bogey. Still, Fleetwood maintained his composure, even when the 2021 FedEx Cup Champion closed to within a shot or when Scheffler reeled off three birdies to make a charge.
“I think it’s easy for anybody to say that they are resilient, that they bounce back, that they have fight. It’s different when you actually have to prove it,” added Fleetwood. “I’ve had to be resilient in terms of putting myself back up there, getting myself back in that position, no matter how many times it doesn’t go my way, no matter how many doubts might creep in. Think the right things, say the right things to yourself, say the right things outwardly, and I am really pleased that I can be proof that if you do all the right things and you just keep going that it can happen.”
Get used to seeing Fleetwood as he earned a five-year PGA Tour exemption in addition to the top prize of $10 million.
Photo credit David Griffin.
