Tommy Fleetwood has finally broken his PGA Tour duck after 164 attempts, securing a breakthrough victory at the Tour Championship in Atlanta. The 34-year-old Southport golfer won by three shots over Patrick Cantlay and Russell Henley, ending a drought that had lasted 15 years since his debut.
The victory banished an unwanted record that had haunted Fleetwood for years. He had accumulated £18.5 million in prize money without a single PGA Tour win, making him the first player in history to reach that milestone without victory.
Victory details and prize money
Fleetwood finished at 18 under par at East Lake Golf Club, with world number one Scottie Scheffler among those trailing at 14 under. The triumph also secured the FedEx Cup championship and a £7.4 million bonus.
Only the Scotsman reports that the victory earned Fleetwood a five-year PGA Tour exemption. The win makes him part of an elite group as both PGA Tour and DP World Tour number one, having won the Race to Dubai in 2017.
Emotional breakthrough moment
"When you've lost so many times, a three-shot lead down the last doesn't feel like that many," Fleetwood said with tears in his eyes after the winning putt. He praised the fan support, saying it made him emotional and expressing gratitude for their backing.
The victory sparked widespread praise from sporting legends. Tiger Woods posted: "Your journey is a reminder that hard work, resilience, and heart do pay off. No one deserves it more." Basketball star LeBron James added: "Congrats @TommyFleetwood1!!! That first one feeling is something else."
Record of near-misses
Fleetwood's breakthrough came after years of agonising near-misses in major championships. He finished second at the 2018 US Open and The Open in 2019, and shared third at the 2024 Masters.
His 41 top-10 finishes without a win had surpassed Brett Quigley's previous record of 34. Earlier this season, he held a three-shot lead going into the final round at the Travelers Championship but lost by one shot to Keegan Bradley.
Career achievements and outlook
Despite the PGA Tour drought, Fleetwood boasts seven European Tour victories and played crucial roles in Europe's Ryder Cup triumphs in 2018 and 2023. His consistent performances had made him one of golf's most respected players without a PGA Tour title.
"I've been a PGA Tour winner for a long time, it's just been in my mind," Fleetwood had previously said. Now he looks ahead optimistically: "This is hopefully just one win, the first of many. You cannot win plenty if you don't win the first one."
Sources used: "Mirror", "WalesOnline", "Scotsman", "Daily Record" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
