After years of heartbreak and close calls, England’s Tommy Fleetwood finally got his moment in the sun — and it was worth every second of the wait.
On Sunday at East Lake Golf Club, the 34-year-old posted a steady 2-under 68 to finish at 18 under, three shots clear of Russell Henley and Patrick Cantlay, clinching both his first PGA Tour victory and the season-long FedEx Cup. The win came with a life-changing $10 million prize and the end of one of golf’s most talked-about droughts.
This was Fleetwood’s 164th career PGA Tour start. Despite seven wins on the DP World Tour and three more worldwide, the PGA Tour trophy had always eluded him — until now.
“It shows how great his attitude is toward the game, how resilient he is,” Rory McIlroy said after finishing tied for 23rd. “I think we’d all love him to do it.”
Fleetwood’s near-miss record was staggering: 30 top-five finishes without a win — the most in the past century — and $33.4 million in earnings without a victory. Twice in the past two months, he’d been on the brink:
- Travelers Championship (June 22): Led by one on the final hole, three-putted, and lost to Keegan Bradley by one.
- FedEx St. Jude Championship (two weeks ago): Two-shot lead with three to play, but faltered to finish tied for third.
This time, there was no collapse. After a bogey at the 10th cut his lead over Cantlay to one, Fleetwood responded with birdies at 12 and 13 to restore a three-shot cushion. Cantlay’s bogey at 16 sealed the deal, and Fleetwood walked up the 18th with history in his grasp.
He became the first player ever to earn his maiden PGA Tour win at the Tour Championship at East Lake.
Scheffler’s Stumble
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, chasing a second straight FedEx Cup, saw his hopes unravel early. A pulled tee shot on the opening hole went out of bounds, leading to bogey. Another bogey at the fifth was followed by a rally of four birdies — but a tee shot into the water on the par-3 15th ended his charge. He tied for fourth at 14 under, matching Jack Nicklaus’ 50-year-old record of 14 consecutive top-10 finishes.
Corey Conners (62) and Cameron Young (66) also shared fourth place.
Ryder Cup Watch
U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley, who started the day three shots back, never found momentum and also fell victim to the watery 15th. He’ll announce his six captain’s picks Wednesday, calling the possibility of selecting himself “the biggest decision of my life.”
There hasn’t been a playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963, but Bradley — ranked 13th in the world — has been one of the tour’s most consistent winners over the past year.
“Nobody wants to win the Ryder Cup more than Keegan Bradley,” said teammate Maverick McNealy. “At the end of the day, it comes down to who plays the best golf.”
Fleetwood’s win wasn’t just a personal milestone — it was a statement. After years of being labeled the “best player without a PGA Tour win,” he’s now a FedEx Cup champion, $10 million richer, and proof that persistence pays off.
