Tommy Fleetwood admits he’s “disappointed” at falling short of a first PGA Tour title at the FedEx St Jude Championship.
Fleetwood, 34, led the tournament since the second round, and he held a two-shot lead with three holes to play on Sunday at TPC Southwind.
But a par on the easy par-5 16th followed by a sloppy bogey on the par-4 17th saw Fleetwood fall one shot outside of a playoff between his compatriot Justin Rose and US Open champion JJ Spaun.
Rose, 45, went on to capture his 12th PGA Tour title and first since February 2023 with a birdie on the third extra hole.
His FedEx St Jude Championship victory vaults him up to fourth in the season-long FedEx Cup, which he won in 2018.
The win also more than likely assures Rose of his place in Luke Donald’s 2025 European Ryder Cup team next month.
But back to Fleetwood, and his immediate reaction after signing for a 69 to finish the week on 15-under par in a tie for third with World No.1 Scottie Scheffler was one of sheer disappointment.
The result marked Fleetwood’s 29th top-five finish on the PGA Tour in 162 appearances, which is a record for any player without a win to their name dating back to 1983.
Fleetwood also came close when losing by one shot to Keegan Bradley at the Travelers Championship eight weeks ago on the PGA Tour.
He had a one-shot lead down the 72nd hole in that tournament only for a birdie-bogey swing to see him come up short.
Fleetwood has therefore now had to endure two tough finishes in the space of two months.
In amongst the disappointment, he is trying to take some positives from it all.
“I’m obviously going to be disappointed,” Fleetwood told reporters off the back of the 18th while the playoff between Rose and Spaun was taking place.
“I think — I said last time, there’s a lot of positives to take, as much as I don’t really — I won’t feel like that right now. I’m just going to look at what I feel like I could have done and how close it was.
“You know, we move on. There’s another week that’s next and I’ve just got to reflect on today and obviously keep pushing forward and try and put myself in that position again.”
Fleetwood, who will compete in another European Ryder Cup team next month, is hopeful his most ardent fans will stick by him as he looks to finally fulfil his childhood dream and one day win on the PGA Tour.
“Well, as long as they stay with me and stay on my side, then we can all look for the positives,” said Fleetwood.
“Yeah, I’m lucky with the support that I get, and I have enjoyed — I haven’t been in contention much this year, and then Travelers obviously leading and I felt like it was a great atmosphere and I enjoyed playing in that atmosphere and then today again I get the crowd on my side and I love their support. I’m so appreciative of it. Kind of on this journey together here.
“You just have to keep — all these experiences and these close calls, like I say, there’s no point in making or allowing them to have a negative effect on what happens next. What would be the point?
“It was a great week. I did a ton of good stuff, and as disappointed as I am, I have to try to find the strength to make it all a positive experience and hopefully next time go again, put myself in that position again and we just go again.”
Fleetwood stuck around after the tournament to sign autographs for all his adoring fans.
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