Tommy Fleetwood, the 34-year-old Englishman, has finally secured his first PGA Tour title at the 2025 Tour Championship, also claiming the coveted FedEx Cup. After 164 PGA Tour starts, 44 top-10 finishes, and six runner-up finishes, Fleetwood emerged victorious at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, marking a significant milestone in his 15-year professional career. His impressive performance earned him a $10 million prize, a testament to his hard work and perseverance.
Fleetwood entered the final round tied for the lead with Patrick Cantlay. He carded a final-round 68, finishing the tournament at 18-under par. His ability to handle the pressure on Sunday proved to be the difference, as he outperformed the rest of the field. Russell Henley and Patrick Cantlay finished in a tie for second, three strokes behind Fleetwood. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, along with Corey Conners and Cameron Young, finished further back.
Throughout the tournament, Fleetwood demonstrated resilience and skill. In the final round, Cantlay bogeyed the first hole and double-bogeyed the second, giving Fleetwood an early advantage. Fleetwood capitalized on this, making a 20-foot birdie putt on the second hole, the only birdie recorded on that hole all day. Despite a bogey on the fifth hole due to a poor tee shot and a hooked driver on the 10th, Fleetwood maintained his composure. He navigated a challenging shot on the par-5 18th, hitting his approach shot into the greenside rough before chipping and putting to secure the win.
Fleetwood's journey to this victory was marked by previous near misses. He had led the Travelers Championship and the St. Jude Championship in recent months, only to fall short. At the Travelers Championship in June, he held a one-stroke lead entering the final hole but finished with a bogey, while Keegan Bradley birdied to win. At the St. Jude Championship, he entered the final round with the lead but finished tied for third. This win at the Tour Championship marks the first time in FedExCup history that a player has made the Tour Championship his maiden title.
Fleetwood acknowledged the weight of his past experiences after the win. Despite holding a three-stroke lead in the final holes, he admitted to feeling uneasy, given his previous setbacks. However, he managed to maintain his focus and secure the victory. "This is just, hopefully, one win -- the first of many to come," Fleetwood said. "You can't win plenty if you don't win the first one. I'm just so happy that I got it done".
His victory was met with widespread support, including congratulations from celebrities like LeBron James and Caitlin Clark. James lauded Fleetwood for overcoming adversity, while Clark described his breakthrough as "awesome".
Fleetwood's success can be attributed to changes he made to his equipment. He switched to a Spider Tour putter and saw improvement in his Strokes Gained: Putting. He also returned to a Fujikura Ventus Blue VeloCore+ 6 X driver shaft.
With this win, Fleetwood becomes the second Englishman to win the FedExCup, following Justin Rose in 2018. However, he is the first to win it by winning the Tour Championship. His victory is expected to boost his confidence as he prepares for the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black next month.
