Tommy Fleetwood’s wait for a PGA Tour victory is now over after he clinched the Tour Championship and lifted the FedEx Cup at East Lake on Sunday.
It seems remarkable that Tommy Fleetwood had to wait so long for a maiden win on the PGA Tour. Of course, much has been made of his recent close calls at the Travelers Championship and the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
Those agonising finishes would have made what happened at the Tour Championship all the sweeter.
Fleetwood began the final day at East Lake tied for the lead with Patrick Cantlay. However, he produced a superb round on Sunday to finish three shots clear of Cantlay and Russell Henley.
Tommy Fleetwood comments on Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy after winning the Tour Championship
The Englishman has been one of the best players on the planet for some time. He began the week 10th in the world rankings. And he was fifth in the FedEx Cup heading into the season finale on the PGA Tour.
It has been apparent for a long time that he has the game to compete with the likes of Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy on the biggest stages.
And speaking after his victory, Fleetwood noted the impact the two giants of the game have had on him in recent years.
“I love coming to work every day and working as hard as I can to compete against the best players in the world,” he said.
“I feel like every aspect of the game out here and all the players, all they do is make you better and you are consistently striving to be better.
“I feel very lucky that I get to walk on the range that the likes of Scottie will be there or Rory will be there, or other amazing players who you aspire to beat and it keeps you pushing and practicing.
“I feel so proud to have won this tournament this week and I just love that I get to go again.”
The perfect appetiser for the Ryder Cup as Tommy Fleetwood holds off the American challengers at East Lake
With the Ryder Cup looming, it felt particularly significant that Fleetwood held off four of the USA’s best players to get across the line.
The chasing pack included Scheffler as well as a ghost of missed opportunities past, with Keegan Bradley the man who snatched the Travelers Championship title from his grasp in June.
The American side looks to have a lot of momentum heading to Bethpage, with some of those fighting to make the team showing some real form.
However, Luke Donald will be delighted to see two of the FedEx Cup playoff events won by those who will be wearing blue and yellow in New York next month.
And with Fleetwood clearing that hurdle and becoming a PGA Tour winner at long last, there really is no reason why he cannot kick on and close the gap to McIlroy and Scheffler.
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