Few players have had a better stretch over the past four months than Tommy Fleetwood, who has picked up two wins and played a big part in Europe’s Ryder Cup success.
The Travelers Championship feels like ages ago now, but it was not just another tournament. That week at TPC River Highlands raised real doubts about whether Fleetwood would ever get over the line on the PGA Tour after his late bogey handed the win to Keegan Bradley.
Things did not get any better at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, either, where he once again looked poised for victory before missing out on a spot in the playoff.
But he put those disappointments behind him with a win at the Tour Championship. The scenes around the 18th green said it all – players like Shane Lowry, Justin Rose, and Harry Hall were there to celebrate with him.
His form carried into Bethpage Black as well. He led all players in points with four from five matches – a feat he managed for the second time in his Ryder Cup career.
Where Tommy Fleetwood still has room to grow
Fleetwood followed that up by winning the DP World India Championship this past week. While it may not be one of the more prestigious events on tour, it adds to a growing run of strong results heading into 2026.
But despite his impressive form, the British golfer still has ground to make up before he is considered on the same level as Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy.
Smylie Kaufman, speaking on The Smylie Show, pointed out one area where Fleetwood could improve if he wants to bridge that gap.
“Jon Rahm, what we saw from him at the Ryder Cup was obviously incredible, and what he could potentially do at some majors, he would be a name that you would have to talk about. Xander Schauffele, to see what he might potentially do. I know you want to talk about him in a minute,” he began by saying when discussing whether Fleetwood belongs in golf’s new big three.
Kaufman then added: “No, I’m not putting Tommy in this category with Scottie and Rory. I feel like those two are in a category by themselves. I think Tommy is definitely in that next tier of guys who, I think, have the capability to win major championships, win signature events, potentially can play their way into being solidified third player in the world from a world ranking standpoint. I think everybody has work to do to chase down, obviously Scottie’s got a three touchdown lead, but maybe if Rory were to have an off year, to become the second best player in the world. Tommy’s definitely in that category for certain, for how he’s played.
“I’m not ready to pronounce that he’s in this big three category. I hate to use age as a reason why. His consistency, for certain, the way he hits the golf ball, the feeling that he has no weaknesses. I will say that, yes, he does hit it fairly far, but is he gaining strokes off the tee like Scottie and Rory do with their length? Over the course of an entire year, I still feel like that’s such an important stat.
“I know he hits a lot of fairways, but the more distance he can pick up, the better it will be for Tommy because I think to be the best player in the world, you can’t be just a little bit above average when it comes to distance off the tee.”
How Tommy Fleetwood stacks up against Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler off the tee
There is a noticeable difference between Fleetwood and the top two players in the world. Scheffler leads the PGA Tour in strokes gained off the tee for 2025, with McIlroy sitting right behind him.
Fleetwood, by contrast, is ranked 48th in that category. He also falls outside the top 100 for driving distance, averaging under 300 yards per drive this season.
| Tommy Fleetwood | Scottie Scheffler | Rory McIlroy | |
| Strokes gained off the tee | 48th | 1st | 2nd |
| Driving distance (yards) | 299.4 | 308.3 | 323 |
It is not a strength of his game compared to others. However, he ranks sixth in approach play and sits inside the top 20 for putting.
This has not held him back much recently. Fleetwood has shown he can win at any level, with his Tour Championship win serving as a prime example.
Still, if he could add some extra yardage off the tee, it could open up even more chances for him to capitalise on his strengths.
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