The Ryder Cup star claimed his PGA Tour title at the 164th attempt in August and has revealed how his love of the Toffees helped his cause
Tommy Fleetwood reckons his life as a long-suffering Everton fan gave him the strength and optimism to finally win his first PGA Tour event at the 164th attempt.
The Southport-born star claimed the $10m FedEx Cup in August before starring as the top points scorer in Europe’s away Ryder Cup triumph.
But the Olympic silver medallist had suffered years of heartache and near misses – just like his football team – before his breakthrough victory.
And the world No.3, who was born in 1991 and has no memory of Everton ever winning a trophy, said his upbringing as a Blues fan has helped him through the tough times in his golf career.
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“You’re definitely more accepting,” Fleetwood smiled. They probably intertwined. My two oldest boys are City fans (like his wife Clare). They’re 17 and 19, and they’ve grown up with Man City. You should see them trying to accept Man City only drawing a match. They can’t handle it. They’ve not quite managed to have the same upbringing as me in the same mentality where you accept whatever happens and you enjoy the good stuff.
“It’s like whatever happens, there’s no point in having a negative effect on what happens next. And that’s the same in football. Like you can’t do anything about the match that you’ve just lost or whatever’s happened or the match that you’ve just, you know, somebody scored in the 96th minute, a draw or whatever it may be, you can’t do anything about it. You can just look for the positive experience in it to help you win the next game.”
Fleetwood, who failed to convert two 54-hole leads on the PGA Tour last summer before his East Lake triumph, added: I’ve always worked on trying to look for the positives and then look towards what’s next. I think I’ve been getting better at it all the time. I think this year, in the summer, I was definitely very, very good at that and I learned a lot about it.”
Fleetwood’s maiden PGA Tour win came on the same days as Everton’s first win at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium. His best memory is fans giving him score updates during his final round of the 2022 US PGA when Frank Lampard ’s came back from 0-2 down against Crystal Palace to avoid relegation. And his favourite player is Francis Jeffers and his father Pete’s best friend is Graeme Stewart.
Fleetwood, who has the Everton crest on his bag and wedge, added: “I somehow managed to get Frankie our youngest son. He’s an Everton fan.”
Asked if he has become a better human being through being a Blues fan, he told the Men In Blazers podcast: “Probably, probably. We’ll just credit being an Everton fan for so many things. It’s a deep rooted love. Do you know what I actually really love about being an Everton? I just love the optimism that comes with being an Everton fan week in, week out. I love that. We’re always just ready for great times.”
Fleetwood finished the season with three top-three finishes on the DP World Tour – including a win in India. Asked what will happen first – him winning the Masters or Everton winning the Premier League – he laughed: Well the Masters is in April, so hopefully me. Tell you what, let’s both do it in the same year and then that will be perfect!”
