Rory McIlroy wasn’t on hand to congratulate Tommy Fleetwood after his long-awaited Tour Championship win
Tommy Fleetwood’s breakthrough PGA Tour victory at the Tour Championship sparked widespread celebration, with fellow golfers Justin Rose and Shane Lowry awaiting the English star on the 18th hole to congratulate him.
Rory McIlroy is a friend of Fleetwood’s and longtime Ryder Cup teammate, but he wasn’t present on the 18th green to personally congratulate him. Instead, Fleetwood shared the stage with others, while McIlroy was absent due to his own commitments.
The reason? McIlroy had already left the state completely. He was spotted at the U.S. Open in New York just three hours after finishing his own round in Atlanta, attending Novak Djokovic’s match inside Arthur Ashe Stadium and making for a packed travel schedule. Meanwhile, Fleetwood’s wife was not present to witness his PGA Tour breakthrough after rumors that their 23-year age gap has left her “paranoid.”
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At the Tour Championship, McIlroy put in a solid week, finishing tied for 23rd at 6 under par — his rounds carding 66, 67, 71, and 70 across the tournament.
He started strong with a 7-under through the first two rounds but slipped during the third and fourth, ultimately unable to challenge for the title. His final round saw five bogeys, including three straight from the 14th to the 16th, and five birdies.
Meanwhile, at the U.S. Open, Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, took to the court against rising American Learner Tien, winning in three sets to advance to the next round.
Fleetwood’s victory was the culmination of a career marked by consistency without a win: 164 PGA Tour starts, 46 top‑10s without a title, 30 top‑five finishes, and six runner‑up results before finally breaking through.
His victory came via a stellar week — shots of 64, 63, 67, and 68 — at a tournament with a massive $40 million purse, making Fleetwood one of the top earners in a single event.
Back on the 18th, several players were there to join Fleetwood in celebration. Rose posted afterward on social media to mark the moment.
“This felt as good as winning myself! So happy for my man @TommyFleetwood1 for enduring the relentless pressure cooker his quality golf has put him in during these playoffs and there is no more deserving champ.”
Fleetwood’s win was a career-defining moment: ending a long stretch of near misses and finally claiming his place among PGA Tour champions.
It comes after we revealed Tiger Woods’ brutal 3-word statement to a security guard after he was denied entry to The Open.