What you can learn from the timeless swing of Tommy Fleetwood

Tommy Fleetwood, one of golf’s most beloved figures, finally earned his first PGA Tour victory at the Tour Championship (and coincidentally won the DP World India Championship today). Prior to his Tour Championship victory, Fleetwood had come agonizingly close numerous times, with eleven second or third place finishes and seven top ten finishes in majors.

The now eight-time DP World Tour winner, recognizable by his precision swing and flowing locks, turned professional in 2010. At the age of 20, he topped the Challenge Tour rankings and went on to claim his first DP World Tour win at the 2013 Johnnie Walker Championship.

Born in Southport, England, just a mile from Royal Birkdale, Fleetwood grew up sneaking the legendary fairways with his father, Pete, a former Birkdale caddie. Those childhood moments on the windy links, where 10 open championships took place, fueled his passion and shaped his game.

Fleetwood, a protege of English teacher Alan Thompson since the age of 13, began working with legendary coach Butch Harmon in 2023 to improve his performance. Nicknamed ‘Fairway Jesus’, he won the 2017 Race to Dubai and earned an Olympic silver medal in 2024. A cornerstone of the Ryder Cup, his perfect 4-0 record in 2018 was the driving force behind Europe’s triumph, and he secured the decisive point in 2023. And in 2025 he was even better, going 4-1-0 at Bethpage Black. He now sits at No. 12 on the all-time European points list with a record of 11-4-2 in four Ryder Cup appearances.

Fleetwood, married to Clare Craig, his manager and confidante since 2017, is a devoted father to their sons Frankie and Mo, and a stepson, Oscar, from Craig’s previous marriage. And he is the owner of a great swing.

Tommy Fleetwood’s timeless swing, explained

1. SETUP: Fleetwood’s setup features a retro-style rounded upper back. And he suffocates in the club. Not a bad idea to get closer to the balance point of the club for better control.

2. TAKEAWAY: Copy the way Tommy turns his chest away from the target at the beginning of his swing. (Note that you can now see the Nike logo on his left chest.) His hips can also rotate freely. Great takeaway.

3. ABOVE: Fleetwood’s clubface is slightly closed to his left wrist, with his right forearm more under the club than most other pros. This helps him create a super cool delivery position.

4. DOWN: Tommy bends his head down and to the right as he passes from above. Also notice how low he drops his back shoulder. This helps him stay in his ‘underhand javelin throw’ position when he’s about to be hit – a powerful move for one of the smallest players on Tour.

5. IMPACT: Take note here, slicers: Fleetwood keeps his right forearm well below his left while keeping his trail arm bent as he approaches impact. And look at that right trigger finger: he uses it to square the club and makes a final push for a powerful impact.