The tears were readily misconstrued as tears of happiness. There was no victory in the three years between Tommy Fleetwood’s triumph at the 2019 Nedbank Challenge and his victory in November. They featured an “awful” stretch of play and a front-row seat as the United States celebrated a rout of Europe in the Ryder Cup.
Due to his one-shot victory over Ryan Fox, Fleetwood was entitled to profound introspection. One of the finest golfers in the world was back where he belonged.
However, there was deeper reasoning. Sue, Fleetwood’s mother, passed away in July at the age of sixty. In South Africa, he naturally experienced a kaleidoscope of thoughts. “That was the emotional component,” adds Fleetwood.
“I wasn’t affected by winning. That day I felt quite relaxed, and I thoroughly liked playing and coming down the stretch. I was in a positive frame of mind and playing quite well.
“In the end, it was simply one of those times. In 2021, when I was playing poorly, my mother was there for me through all the crap. Simple statements such as “Tomorrow will be a fantastic day” Then, throughout the week I win without her…” Fleetwood’s thoughtful look conveys the story.
He is an example of a professional athlete who maintained a day job in the public glare despite personal circumstances dictating that his attention must have been diverted.
Following the 150th Open, a social media post disclosed that Fleetwood’s mother had passed away, her illness has lasted so long that it was rather surprising that he remained in the world’s top 50 despite this.
Two years ago, she was diagnosed with cancer, the 31-year-old says. “She was frequently hospitalized. You never anticipate her death. You can never be prepared for that. She had been on and off chemo and battling for quite some time, so she had been ill for a considerable amount of time.
“I visited her on the Tuesday following the Open. She wasn’t especially joyful, but she looked better than she had in the past year and a half. I got home and said: ‘My mum looks so lovely today.’ She passed away the next day.
Who can be prepared for that? She was still a teenager. She was the only one outside my wife who sent me daily text messages. It was a major loss, a major void. I felt sorry for my father, who had sat beside my mother for two years and witnessed her suffering. Their marriage spanned 42 years. I am pleased with how he handled everything.”
It is typical of Fleetwood’s modest nature that he has no desire to exaggerate the situation. “Everyone adjusts to the circumstances they face,” he explains. “I wish my mother and father had been able to travel more. They missed out on the last several years of my career, which were very significant. I could still appreciate going home and spending time with both of them.
“Everyone experiences family difficulties at some point; all you can do is what you can. The mother and father never complained about it. We never made the situation worse than it was.”
Fleetwood’s time away from golf was brief. The Open, in which he tied for fourth, concluded on July 17. Early in September, the man from Southport participated in the PGA Championship at Wentworth, where he opened with a score of 64. Unspoken tragedy inside the family was the backdrop.
“I would not have been very adept at discussing it,” adds Fleetwood. “I was dismayed as I teed off. I was upset upon completion. That was the most unanticipated round I’ve ever received. Golf has been such an integral part of our lives. Mum would always text ‘Play well’ at the end of her messages.
“I had been anticipating it and was eager to play at Wentworth. My father was going to attend. While I was there, I did not appreciate it. But I’m glad I played in the end. I had completed it then.”
The Nedbank was evidence of such a commendable mental reset and confirmation of on-track development. Fleetwood’s top five finishers at the US PGA Championship were identical to his Open finish. He finished in the top 20 at the Masters in April.
“It’s a very difficult environment, and winning is always the goal, so when you don’t achieve it, it may be terrible,” he explains. “I had great chances to win in 2021, but the truth is that my performance was abysmal. Even if I don’t win in South Africa – it all comes down to the last hole – I’ll have had a fantastic year and played much better.
“It is acceptable to not win if you believe you are doing enough of the right things, as it will eventually occur. But of course, I feel better; there is a significant difference between three years and a few weeks since your previous victory.”
Fleetwood can look forward with optimism and confidence, knowing that time is on his side. The general belief that he is one of the game’s finest without a significant victory offers optimism for the future.
“I still believe I have a great chance in those tournaments,” he says. “I’m consistent, I am patient. The more difficult examinations suit me. I would like it to be my time sooner or later and more than once. I believe that my prime years are yet to come. There is so much more I want to do in my profession.”
Unsurprisingly, Fleetwood was unaware of the hubbub around the dissident LIV Golf tour. “My mentality has always been on bringing my game back to where I want it and where I believe it should be,” he says.
“The occurrence of something novel was never in my plans. It did not affect me. I was unable to play on a new tour since my mother’s health was in jeopardy and other matters were of higher priority. It never really piqued my curiosity.”
However, there is an intense desire to recover from the Ryder Cup. September in Italy will be shocking if Fleetwood is not among the European contingent. “When we were defeated and standing on the final green at Whistling Straits, everyone’s thoughts immediately turned to Rome,” he explains.
“Winning the Ryder Cup is an incredible experience. Losing it is rubbish. Seeing the other team celebrating is quite painful. On the flight back to London, we all devised strategies for regaining control.
Should this transpire, Fleetwood may have another bout of melancholy. It would be entirely natural; a person devoted to both family and golf would have an emotional reason to forever link the two.
