Tommy Fleetwood Heartbroken After PGA Tour Near-Miss but Vows to Come Back Stronger
Tommy Fleetwood came agonizingly close to ending his long wait for a PGA Tour victory, only to suffer a crushing final-hole defeat at the Travelers Championship. After leading for almost the entire tournament, the Englishman’s hopes of clinching that elusive first win in the U.S. were dashed by a heartbreaking collapse on the 72nd hole — and a stunning birdie by American Keegan Bradley.
It was Fleetwood’s 159th attempt to win on the PGA Tour, and it appeared as though his time had finally come. He stepped onto the final tee at TPC River Highlands with a one-shot lead and hit what looked to be a perfect drive down the fairway. Victory was within his grasp. But the swirling Connecticut winds proved treacherous. His approach shot missed the target, and then, with nerves mounting, he three-putted for bogey. Bradley, seizing the moment, sank a birdie to snatch the win right out from under Fleetwood.
The look on Fleetwood’s face said it all as he was consoled by his family in the aftermath — a mixture of disbelief, frustration, and sorrow. Yet even in defeat, the 33-year-old remained dignified and introspective.
“I’m angry, I’m upset. There’s no point pretending otherwise,” he admitted candidly. “But once the emotion settles, I’ll take a proper look at how I played. I know I did a lot of things right this week, and I’ll learn from what I didn’t do well enough. I have to.”
Fleetwood has long been one of the most respected players on both the European and PGA Tours, admired for his ball striking, sportsmanship, and resilience. But the absence of a win in the U.S. has been a nagging talking point throughout his career — and this latest loss only adds to that narrative. Sunday’s runner-up finish marks his 42nd top-10 on American soil, but still no trophy.
“Of course, people are going to keep talking about it,” he said. “I would have loved to shut that door this week. But the search goes on. And when it does happen, it’s going to feel incredibly special.”
Reflecting on the painful conclusion, Fleetwood admitted the defeat was among the hardest to swallow. “I led the tournament for 71 holes,” he said. “Leading by two with three to play, and then one down the last — not even making it into a playoff, that’s tough. Probably the worst possible way for it to go. But credit to Keegan. He played the last few holes brilliantly.”
Despite the heartache, Fleetwood emphasized that he won’t allow this to derail his progress or define his future.
“I’d be stupid to let one bad hole become a burden. I obviously played some great golf this week,” he said. “I put myself in position, and that’s all you can ask for. I want to be back there again — as soon as possible. And next time, I’ll try to finish the job.”
Asked whether he felt this was his closest call yet on the PGA Tour, he didn’t hesitate. “Yes, I think it was,” he said. “I’ve had a few chances down the stretch before, but this was the longest I’ve led a tournament. I should’ve at least forced a playoff. It’s a terrible way to finish. I didn’t really hit poor shots, but there were a few bad decisions. I didn’t clean up the mistakes, and that’s on me.”
Despite the bitter end, Fleetwood showed his class by offering congratulations to Bradley, who enjoyed overwhelming support from the home crowd.
“If there’s someone the fans here are going to root for, it’s Keegan,” he said. “But the crowd was amazing to me, too. I’ve always felt lucky with how warmly people receive me in the States. This week was no different. It was a fantastic atmosphere and a joy to play in.”
Now, Fleetwood will turn his focus to the Genesis Scottish Open and then The Open Championship — a major that holds special meaning for the Southport native. Though the sting of this latest defeat still lingers, his determination is clear: Tommy Fleetwood is down, but far from out.