English star recounts the reaction to his US victory and the hospital scenario which denied his boy the chance to see it
Tommy Fleetwood celebrates with the FedEx Cup(Image: Getty Images)
Family-guy Tommy Fleetwood was in a bubble as the likes of Tiger Woods led the congrats after his American victory.
The English star has revealed stepson Mo missed his long-awaited PGA Tour triumph at the Tour Championship due to being in hospital for spinal surgery.
Fleetwood is at the BMW PGA Championship still bursting with pride at the FedEx Cup success which smashed his US tournament hoodoo.
Superstars from across the sporting planet offered well done messages with golf’s GOAT Woods heading the list.
But Fleetwood said: “When I finished, you’re in such a bubble. When you’re playing and very focused on the day. I did the two or three hours of commitments afterwards, a lot of people mentioned Tiger Woods tweeted and LeBron James, and so throughout it all, I think that story built up quite a lot.
“For it to happen the way it did and for that story to build and eventually getting over the line and winning that one at East Lake, which is such a huge one, and to see the story and how people reacted, it was the coolest thing, it really, really was. I was just really touched by a lot of popular sort of journey any man that had come.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Fleetwood’s stepson Oscar was there for the big moment, but Mo and wife Clare and were not in attendance and he explained: “Our middle boy, Mo, had a spinal operation just over a month ago now, so they were unable to travel.
“Actually the week of Memphis, they were in the hospital and he was recovering and they actually just got home before we got home. He had three and a half weeks I think in the hospital. He is a lot better. He is here this week.
“We didn’t celebrate in a classic style. I was really happy to come home. My form of celebration was just kind of being with my family and everyone. We could just enjoy the moment.
“Didn’t have to do anything like super, super special occasion. It was more I could be with my wife and my kids and our family around us and just enjoy it all together. It was much less like a party. It was more all being together and just enjoying what had just happened, really.
“Every week you get close to the finish line and it didn’t quite happen. It was build on the positives and reset from the negatives that didn’t happen, learn from it and go again. I was hearing about it and talking about it but I wasn’t aware of how many people were affected.
“I always enjoy coming back to this tournament and seeing faces that I don’t see every week, anyway. It’s kind of extra nice when you’ve got so many people saying ‘Well done’ that you haven’t seen.
“All the emotions that come with that win, definitely relief was part of it. I’m still very aware that my golf game is the same. My game has not changed and my mindset has not changed throughout it all.”
Scottie Scheffler’s admission at The Open that the joy of success doesn’t last too long was put to Fleetwood and he continued: “I enjoyed it more than I celebrated it. Life moves on quickly at golf. As soon as you finish on Sunday, new week starts on Monday and every single person that is out here playing on the Tour are just focused on what they are doing in the following week.
“I didn’t celebrate in a sort of mild manner. It was just a nice, enjoyable time to share with everyone, but your mind moves towards such an amazing part of the season still to come.
“It’s Ryder Cup season. We have that focus on. For me, I’m in quite a low position on The Race to Dubai, so I want to climb that, as well. There’s always something else to focus on.”
Fleetwood now love another win on his own patch and follow the triumph of Rory McIlroy in Ireland last weekend.
He said: “I guess as a goal and a dream, you always picture those moments. Winning on home soil is very special.
“Look at last week. I think that was one of the coolest things to watch and what a special moment that was. “Pictured myself winning on the 18th green many, many times. Ultimate dream, I’m from Southport, I’ve got Open Championships that come close to home every few years, and like that is like the most powerful image for me.”
Fleetwood recounted being at Wentworth as a junior learning from a legend as he smiled: “Ernie Els did a clinic and I was eight. He actually became my hero from that day forth because he just happens to speak to me. There was a group of I don’t know how many kids and he happened to make eye contact and speak to me. “From that point on, Ernie Els was always my hero and he still is, actually.
“I don’t remember anything about the tournament but I remember that specific clinic and Ernie doing that. I just tried to swing it like him, and Ernie Els was my guy.”
