ATLANTA — Everyone enjoys witnessing a first-time victor, particularly one who has endured numerous challenges and narrowly missed success on many occasions.
England`s Tommy Fleetwood clinched his inaugural PGA Tour victory — in his 164th career tournament start — at the Tour Championship held at East Lake Golf Club on Sunday.
Fleetwood delivered a stellar performance in the final round, posting a 2-under 68, which brought his total to 18 under par. This placed him three strokes ahead of competitors Russell Henley and Patrick Cantlay.
Before this triumphant Sunday, Fleetwood had been a runner-up six times on the PGA Tour and had secured a top-three finish in a dozen other tournaments.
Statistical analysis indicates that Fleetwood`s 30 top-five finishes represented the highest count for any golfer without a PGA Tour win over the past century. Furthermore, his 44 top-10 finishes ranked second in the same 100-year period.
“I believe I`m proud of my past achievements,” Fleetwood commented on Sunday, just moments before hoisting the FedEx Cup trophy and receiving his $10 million winner`s check. “Regardless of whether I had won or not, I`ve always taken pride in my career to date, recognizing that there`s still a significant journey ahead and much more to master.
“Ultimately, this doesn`t alter that perspective. This is, hopefully, just one win – the initial one of many to come. You simply cannot accumulate a multitude of victories if you don`t secure the very first one.”
Fleetwood`s much-anticipated maiden win sparked a wave of congratulatory messages across the entire golf community and beyond on Sunday. Here are some of the most notable reactions shared on social media following Fleetwood`s victory.
Leading Sports Personalities
Fifteen-time major champion Tiger Woods, a golfer with 82 PGA Tour victories, expressed his appreciation for Fleetwood`s persistent journey to finally claim a win. Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, who recently embraced golf, also followed the event with considerable interest. WNBA icon Caitlin Clark, a passionate golfer, had even predicted Fleetwood`s success before he began his round at East Lake and was delighted to see him achieve the win.
The Golf World Responds
Woods was not the only PGA Tour professional to commend Fleetwood`s determination.
European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald must undoubtedly be pleased with Fleetwood`s excellent form heading into next month`s competition against the American team at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York.
Justin Rose, the only other Englishman to have previously won the FedEx Cup in 2018, was present to witness Fleetwood making the decisive winning putt. It is always a feel-good moment when a genuinely good person triumphs.
Across the Wider Sporting Landscape
Everton F.C., Fleetwood`s beloved Premier League football club, celebrated his long-awaited accomplishment. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Alex Caruso conveyed his excitement succinctly with a single word. Heisman Trophy winner Charles Woodson also offered his thoughts on the victory.
