Tommy Fleetwood has won his first PGA Tour title, claiming the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake in Atlanta and the $10 million (£7.39m) winner’s cheque.
The Englishman carded a final-round 68 on Sunday to finish three shots clear on 18 under par, ahead of Americans Patrick Cantlay and Russell Henley.
The victory also delivered him the circuit’s most prestigious crown and took his career earnings on the PGA Tour to more than $40 million (£29m).
Fleetwood, 33, had previously contested 164 events in the United States without a win, posting 30 top-five finishes and seven runner-up spots. He became emotional as the Atlanta crowd chanted his name during the trophy presentation.
“It makes me a bit emotional,” Fleetwood said. “I need to thank them for supporting me through all this.”
When he holed his final putt and embraced his long-time friend and caddie Ian Finnis, Fleetwood said the financial rewards were not at the forefront of his mind. “No, I’m proud of what I’ve done before. Whether I won or not, I’ve been proud of my career. This doesn’t change that really. One win, hopefully the first of many to come. You can’t win plenty if you don’t win the first one. I’m just so happy I got it done.”
Fleetwood acknowledged the setbacks he had endured before his breakthrough. “You just keep learning,” he said. “There was Travelers [when he lost], there was Memphis, and there were plenty before… But I think I’ve had a great attitude through it all. I was a bit erratic today at times, and I was really proud of how I found my swing again.”
Support for the Brit even came from beyond the golfing world. As reported in The Telegraph, NBA star LeBron James wrote on X: “This feels like the day.” Actor Adam Sandler also posted messages of support, while Tiger Woods praised Fleetwood in the immediate aftermath of his win. “Your journey is a reminder that hard work, resilience and heart do pay off. No one deserves it more,” Woods said.
World No 1 Scottie Scheffler was unable to match Fleetwood’s pace, while US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley, who finished seventh, briefly threatened a challenge.
Fleetwood’s victory lifts him to world No 6 ahead of the Ryder Cup in Rome, which begins in four weeks’ time.
Europe captain Luke Donald watched on as Rasmus Hojgaard secured the final automatic qualifying spot for the team with a 13th-place finish at the Betfred British Masters. Alex Noren won that event, edging Nicolai Hojgaard and Kazuma Kobori by one shot, and is now a candidate for one of Donald’s six wildcard picks, which will be announced on September 1.
