Breakthrough PGA Tour title finally arrives for Fleetwood

The English Tommy Fleetwood poses with his Fedex Cup Tour Championship Trophy in East Lake in Atlanta, after winning his first PGA Tour title on Sunday. Image Courtesy PGA Tour/X.

By Rahul Banerji

It took 164 starts and 18 holes nerveless golf for Tommy Fleetwood to win his first PGA Tour title, on the Tour Championship in Atlanta on Sunday.

The Englishman, who has picked up thousands of fans by a summer of Hartzeer, arose with the richest prize of the Tour in the East Lake Club with a margin of three shots about Russel Henley and Patrick Cantlay of the US.

The 34-year-old had some help along the way. Cantlay opened with a bogey and a double, while the world number one Scottie Scheffler saw his opening -tee -shot slip out of the borders.

The favorite of the tournament recovered quickly, but a tee shot in water on the rear nine finally ended his chances, even when Fleetwood closed with a 2 under 68 for an 18 -under 262 in total.

At the end, Fleetwood (64-63-67-68) had thousands of fans around the 18th Green, all singing: “Tommy! Tommy! Tommy!” He quietly tapped home, the winning putt, removed his cap, looked at heaven and finally showed his emotions.

“I’ve been a PGA Tour winner for a long time, it has just been in my mind,” said Fleetwood, who recorded a career-high 27 birdies to East Lake, later. “Many close phone calls, but I have always enjoyed the challenge.

Job done

“This was not the most comfortable I have been. I feel that I had a great attitude. … I am so happy that I am doing it. I am happy that we did it together,” he added, referring to his fans.

Before Sunday’s magic finish it had been a difficult year for Fleetwood. He saw a one-shot lead changing in a one-off loss on the Travelers Championship when he took three puts from the front of the green.

On the FedEx St Jude Championship, the long -haired Englishman left a lead of two shots with three holes to play. In 163 previous Tourstarts, Fleetwood had 30 top-five Finishes, including six only this season.

It was clearly a matter of time and faith in itself. In addition to a check of $ 10 million, the victory also brought two trophies, the FedExcup and the “Calamity Jane” Replica -Putter for the Tour Championship.

Fleetwood left on Sunday before the leadership with 2021 Fedex Cup winner Cantlay (64-66-64-71). The American Bogey the first hole and then Driedubeld for Double Bogey on the second to fall behind four shots.

Quick response

Cantlay approached him again after turn, so that the shortage was cut to one shot, but Fleetwood reacted with two fast birdies and never looked back. Henley (61-66-69-69) hiked 13 straight holes without Birdie and never exerted serious pressure on the leader.

For his part, Scheffler (63-69-66-68) found water on the rear nine to slide in a draw for fourth place next to fellow American golfer Cameron Young and Canada’s Corey Connors on 14 under 266.

In the order, the American-Indian Akshay Bhatia closed its season on a high note with a closing 2 under 68 to conclude part of the 13th place and a check of $ 570,000.

Also read: Hartebreak again for Fleetwood as Rose prevails in St Jude Playoff

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