Justin Rose could not hide his joy as his Ryder Cup teammate and close friend, Tommy Fleetwood, finally broke through to claim his first PGA Tour title at the Tour Championship.
Fleetwood held firm under intense pressure during the final round at East Lake, securing a three-shot victory and a $10 million payday. The 34-year-old Englishman, playing in his 164th start in the United States, sealed the moment with an emotional tap-in on the 72nd hole.
It was a triumph forged in resilience. Fleetwood had endured several painful near-misses this season, including heartbreak at both the Travelers Championship in Connecticut and the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis, where he surrendered leads late in the week.
Rose, who edged Fleetwood in Memphis earlier this year, was elated to see his friend finally lift a trophy on American soil. The 45-year-old was greenside, capturing Fleetwood’s final putt and tearful celebration on his phone.
Fleetwood’s emotions spilled over as he embraced his stepson and wife Clare moments after securing the win.
Reflecting on the breakthrough, Fleetwood said:
“I feel like I’ve had a great attitude throughout it all. I’ve always been proud of my career, win or lose, knowing I’ve still got a long way to go and plenty to learn. This doesn’t change that—it’s hopefully just the first of many. But you can’t have many without getting the first one.”
For Fleetwood, it was a victory that felt both overdue and richly deserved—and for Rose, it was the chance to watch his friend’s dream finally come true.
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