Tommy Fleetwood is no stranger to near-misses on the PGA Tour but last weekend’s heartbreak would have surely stung the most.
The 34-year-old missed out on his first victory on the PGA Tour in a spectacular collapse over the final three holes of TPC River Highlands at the Travelers Championship on Sunday.
The Olympic silver medalist held a three-shot lead on the first hole and briefly again on the 13th, but both times he was chased down by Keegan Bradley.
After being whittled down time and time again over the final round, Fleetwood’s lead stood at just one shot as he and Bradley took to the 18th tee – only for the unthinkable to happen.
The Englishman walked off with a bogey five, the Team USA Ryder Cup captain a birdie and the victory.
The near-miss was devastating not only for its fashion but also for what it signified. Fleetwood now has 42 career top-10 finished on the PGA Tour without a victory to show for them.
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Tommy Fleetwood was consoled by his son Frankie and wife Clare after his near-miss Sunday
The Englishman held a three-shot lead heading into the final round but finished second
Keegan Bradley’s birdie on the last saw him steal the victory out of Fleetwood’s hands
And after being left ‘gutted’ once again, he sought a shoulder cry on in his wife Clare and family.
Clare, whom he married in 2017, waited by the clubhouse to comfort her husband alongside their seven-year-old son Frankie and one of his stepsons, Murray.
Little Frankie, who went viral for his adorable interview during the Par-3 Masters contest in April, immediately wrapped his arms around his dad’s waist as Fleetwood patted his back in reassurance before placing a loving kiss on his head.
A choked-up Clare, who is 23 years older than Fleetwood, then leaned in to embrace her husband, pulling the golfer in for a tight squeeze.
Fleetwood had needed to two-putt from 50 feet to guarantee at least a play-off, but instead dragged a six-footer to bogey. Bradley, having been shown the line, then sank his from a fraction inside for birdie and a 𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁er two-shot swing.
Instead, it was Bradley who cashed the staggering $3.6million winner’s check in Cromwell, Connecticut. Not that Fleetwood pocketed pennies. He still walked away with $2,160,000 alongside tied-second finished Russell Henley.
It was Fleetwood’s 159th start on the circuit and five times previously he had been a runner up and had a further five finishes in third.
He has seven victories under his belt in Europe but Stateside he has developed the undesirable of failing to get the job done.
‘I am pretty gutted right now,’ he admitted following the final round in Connecticut.
‘Leading by one on the last and not even making a play-off is probably the worst way it can go. Gutted. I will just go home and start practising again.’