By Emma Kemp
After the plaudits from LeBron James and Tiger Woods and Everton FC – and almost everybody else on the internet – a journalist asked a teary Tommy Fleetwood why people seem to like him so much. He probably did not mean his response as literally as it sounded.
The Englishman started by saying he had always been lucky to make great connections with other people, then stopped and thought about it, before offering a piece of advice his father gave him and he now gives his own kids.
“Even when I was an aspiring young amateur golfer, professional golfer, he always said, ‘Person first, golfer second’,” Fleetwood said. “You’re a good person first, whatever happens after that, you try and be a good golfer second.”
Fleetwood has been a “good golfer second” on the PGA Tour for a long time. Six times, from 164 attempts. Forty-four top-10 finishes and 30 top-five places. Until Sunday (Monday AEST), the 34-year-old from Merseyside was one of only three players since 1983 to finish second six times without a victory, alongside Colin Montgomerie and Briny Baird.
Fleetwood was fast becoming known as the modern-day Montgomerie, having won seven times on the European Tour and three other times internationally, and long been an anchor for the European Ryder Cup team. He held the unwanted record for the most top-10 finishes (44) without winning a PGA Tour event, and the slightly less unwanted record of having earned the most prizemoney in the United States without lifting a trophy.
He started last week’s Tour Championship in Atlanta with $US30 million ($46 million) in prizemoney and no wins. Now he has $US40 million and one win, having converted his third 54-hole lead of the season into victory at East Lake Golf Club and walking away with the season-long FedEx Cup crown.
“I’ve been a PGA Tour winner for a long time; it’s just always been in my mind,” Fleetwood said. “A lot of close calls, but I’ve always enjoyed the challenge.”
One of the best ball strikers of his generation, Fleetwood’s absence from the winner’s circle was an anomaly – not to mention last year’s Paris Olympics, where he fell one stroke short of a gold medal behind Scottie Scheffler.
Among the near misses was the 2018 US Open, when Fleetwood had an eight-foot (2.4-metre) putt for a record round of 62 and a play-off, but it slid by the hole and Brooks Koepka won by a stroke. Then there was the 2023 Canadian Open, when Nick Taylor sank a miracle 22m putt for eagle on the fourth play-off hole.
His most recent collapse, at the Travelers Championship in June, was excruciating. Having led by two shots with three holes to play, Fleetwood bogeyed on 16 and again on 18, missing a close-range par putt, before US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley stole the trophy with a birdie.
“I’m upset now; I’m angry,” said Fleetwood who, before that, always said just being in contention was a privilege.
Tommy Fleetwood with the Fedex Cup – his first PGA trophy.Credit: Getty Images
Two months later, Fleetwood said it would be “funny” if he broke his duck at the Tour Championship in a glitzy field of the top 30 on the PGA Tour’s money list. But here it is. And if the response to Fleetwood’s overdue breakthrough has proven anything, it is that he has indeed been a “good person first”.
Much-loved around the circuit for his generous nature, he is also popular with golf enthusiasts, and is even the subject of an Instagram account titled Tommy Fleetwood’s Hair, accompanied by the tagline: “Official Profile for Tommy’s majestic hair (Sinking Putts and Skipping Cuts).”
Justin Rose, who got the better of Fleetwood at this month’s FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis, was greenside to film his friend’s final putt and celebrations on his phone. “Tommy F’ing Fleetwood … Legend,” the veteran tweeted.
LeBron also tweeted his support as Fleetwood lengthened his lead in the closing holes.
“This feels like the day,” James posted.
Tiger Woods joined in with: “Your journey is a reminder that hard work, resilience, and heart do pay off. No one deserves it more. Congrats @TommyFleetwood1 !”
And his English Premier League team, Everton FC, wrote: “Lifelong Evertonian. PGA Tour title winner”.
Rory McIlroy, who finished far down the leaderboard tied for 23, left East Lake singing the praises of Fleetwood’s positive attitude and resilience – qualities Fleetwood acknowledged do not always come easily.
“It’s easy to say you’re resilient, but it’s hard when you have to be,” Fleetwood said. “I feel lucky I’ve had to show that side of myself, and I feel lucky that it’s paid off.”