I don’t stay up late, in bed by 10pm but not last night. Tommy Fleetwood is someone you’d like as a friend, for my generation – we’d be proud to have him as a son!
The best moment was after he’d finished and he started smiling with his perfect teeth. Then his calm but fulfilled tone as he answered the questions about how he hadn’t won an American PGA tournament when he’s one of the best.
“I always knew I’m a big tournament winner”
He answered
“It’s just I hadn’t won the first one yet!”
His principal opponent – the American Patrick Cantlay, didn’t get the reception that Tommy got on the first tee – strange as this was Georgia America. Hats off to Americans for standing behind Tommy in his final stretch
The BBC reported it rather well this morning
“When you’ve lost so many times, a three-shot lead down the last doesn’t feel like that many,” joked Fleetwood, who had tears in his eyes.
He wasn’t the only one!
He’s from Southport (isn’t that where that nice Damian Stancombe’s from?) and it’s hard to think bad things could have come from there. He is great news for Southport!
We watched on Sky (something we’ve finally got) – the BBC again
Emotion poured out of the 34-year-old Englishman after he holed the winning putt on the 18th green, saluting a crowd who chanted “Tommy, Tommy, Tommy” by raising both arms before letting out a huge roar.
His European Ryder Cup team-mate and friend Justin Rose was greenside to film the final putt and celebrations on his phone as Fleetwood wrapped up a three-shot victory on 18 under par to secure the FedEx Cup and a $10m (£7.4m) first prize.
It’s ages since I could play golf properly. I play with my brother who’s rather good and I know he was up watching as we were.
I’m sure there will be a party this evening in his golf club at Rushmore on the Dorset/Wilshire border.
Golf is a great thing for bringing people together and while I’m not part of that, I hope that golfers will vote Tommy Fleetwood their personality of the year. Like Justin Rose , he’s a rather special man. I saw Lowry on the steps congratulating and hope that McIlroy joined in.
These are the golfers who will compete for the Ryder cup and it’s great that they and others are representing us. I might even find out where my set of clubs is!
Tommy Fleetwood you are a top man!
Tommy Fleetwood – last night
Patrick Cantlay may be less popular with some US galleries.
He has attracted some negative attention due to his perceived slow play, his decision not to wear a cap at the 2023 Ryder Cup (aka Hatgate) which led to allegations of a protest over non-payment of players, and his perceived lack of visible emotion on the course.
There’s a fine line between playing to the galleries and being seen as cold. I thought that Tommy walked it pretty well. Thanks for filling us in on PC’s misdemeanours – don’t look too serious to me but there was some passion in the room last night!