There may have been two players with stronger seasons overall, but given his recent form, it felt right that Tommy Fleetwood walked away with the Tour Championship title.
Fleetwood has come close to breaking through on the PGA Tour more than once, with plenty of talk around his inability to finish things off.
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The Travelers Championship slipped away from him in June, and he had a real shot at the FedEx St. Jude as well. But there were no missed chances this time at East Lake.
This time, though, Fleetwood left no doubt, holding a big lead coming down the final stretch and being able to enjoy every moment of it.
How Fleetwood ranks among the PGA Tour’s most popular players
The atmosphere around the 18th green at East Lake was electric, with fans racing down the fairway to catch a glimpse of Fleetwood’s finishing touches. It was a scene reminiscent of Tiger Woods’ memorable win in 2018, though this one carried a different weight.
While Woods’ victory marked a major moment for golf, Fleetwood’s could be equally pivotal for his own career. He’s been one of the game’s top players for nearly ten years, and few on Tour are held in higher regard than him.
Ryan Lavner addressed Fleetwood’s rise in popularity during an episode of the Golf Channel Podcast.
“Yeah, I think Tommy Fleetwood has become eminently famous, and probably the third most popular player, probably right in line with a Jordan Spieth type, despite not having won. I think Tommy Fleetwood became a fan favourite for not winning. And I think you could probably make the argument that he was more popular as a winless player on the PGA Tour than perhaps if he just won some run-of-the-mill PGA Tour event,” he said.
“We’re not going to call it names, but obviously the FedEx Cup champion elevates you in terms of stature. But had he pulled it off at the Canadian Open or Travelers Championship? I don’t think that would have had quite the resonance that this was.”
Fleetwood had amassed 30 top-five finishes without a win – more than any other player since records began in 1983. That persistence only added to his appeal.
How two key shots helped Tommy Fleetwood secure the Tour Championship
Fleetwood didn’t have his best day at East Lake, posting a 68 that included three bogeys. But he found ways to recover each time.
After his first bogey, he answered with back-to-back birdies. He did the same following a dropped shot on the 10th, picking up two more birdies over the next three holes. And even though he gave one back on 15, he managed his way through the final stretch just as needed.
Ryan Lavner highlighted two particular shots that stood out during Fleetwood’s final round and seemed to make a real difference in how things played out.
“I was really impressed with how Tommy Fleetwood regained his composure throughout the day. He clearly stated his intentions early, making birdie on two. I believe he was the only player in the entire field of 30 players to birdie the par three second hole, stating his intentions,” said Lavner.
“He bounced back from a bogey on five by making two in a row. Patrick Cantlay and he had a two-shot swing on the 10th hole, immediately rebounded with two in a row on the 12th and the 13th hole. He was clearly dealing with Patrick Cantlay’s pace of play.
“Tommy Fleetwood wanted nothing more than to get this round over with. I think Patrick Cantlay was actually quite content dropping anchor. I know they got warned and tried to get back into position, but they were never put on the clock.”
“So we didn’t have that added stress,” Lavner continued. “But just sort of dealing with all of these other elements, having more time to think. I was just really impressed by his composure, hitting fairway with tee shot on 14 being safe with tee shot on this is why yard fifth.”
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