(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Tommy Fleetwood came close again to securing his first PGA TOUR victory, but once more, the trophy slipped away.
On Sunday afternoon at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, Fleetwood held a two-shot lead standing on the 16th tee at TPC Southwind. His main competitor, Scottie Scheffler, had just bogeyed and seemed out of reach. Fleetwood was driving and putting as well as he had all season and looked in control.
However, a late stumble cost him dearly. After a strong birdie run on holes 12, 13, and 15, Fleetwood’s momentum faltered at the 16th. While Justin Rose, J.J. Spaun, and Scheffler all birdied the par-5 16th, Fleetwood’s approach shot flew into the grandstands, leading to a scrappy par. The pressure mounted at the 17th where he bogeyed, dropping him one shot behind Rose and Spaun, who went on to a playoff.
Fleetwood’s final chance vanished at the 18th when his drive landed in a bunker, and the needed birdie never came. Justin Rose eventually claimed the win after a three-hole playoff with Spaun, becoming the oldest TOUR winner since 2021.
This defeat adds to what many now call the “Folly of Fleetwood,” a story marked by near-misses and heartbreak. At 34, Fleetwood has started 161 PGA TOUR events without a victory, with six runner-up finishes, six third places, 29 top fives, and 42 top tens. Though he boasts eight wins worldwide, none have come on American soil.
The 2025 season has been one of Fleetwood’s best yet. He ranks fourth in Strokes Gained, is eighth in the FedExCup standings, and is rated among the top five players globally by statistical models. He had even held the 54-hole lead twice before this event and built a five-shot lead midway through Friday’s round.
Fleetwood remains determined despite the setbacks. After Round 2, he said, “I’d rather be up there and not quite get it done than not there at all. Maybe this weekend is the weekend, and we’ll crack on from there.”
This year, Fleetwood’s Sunday struggles have been on display before, including a tough loss at June’s Travelers Championship where a costly three-putt ended his chances.
Despite the frustrations, Fleetwood keeps a positive outlook. “There’s no point making it a negative for the future,” he said. “It was a great week. I did a ton of good stuff. As disappointed as I am, I have to find the strength to make it a positive experience and hopefully next time put myself in that position again.”
For fans and golf followers, Fleetwood’s journey is becoming one of the sport’s most compelling stories — a talented player who continues to come close but is yet to capture his elusive first PGA TOUR title.
