Tommy Fleetwood says son's spinal surgery kept family from attending Tour Championship victory
Fleetwood reveals 17-year-old stepson underwent a three-and-a-half-week hospital stay as the golfer claimed his first PGA Tour title on his 164th start
Tommy Fleetwood said his breakthrough PGA Tour victory last month came amid a family crisis after his 17-year-old stepson underwent spinal surgery, a development that kept his wife and children in Dubai and away from the winner’s circle.
Fleetwood, who won the Tour Championship on his 164th PGA Tour start, told reporters the operation happened just over a month before his victory and that his stepson, Murray Craig, spent three and a half weeks in hospital. "Our middle boy, Mo, had a spinal operation just over a month ago now so my family were unable to travel," Fleetwood said. "They actually just got home before we got home. He had three and a half week in the hospital."
Fleetwood, 34, said his stepson is recovering well and that the family have since returned to Dubai. Murray is the son of Fleetwood’s wife, Clare, from a previous marriage. Fleetwood acknowledged the personal relief of finally securing a PGA Tour title but said the win was tempered by the concern for his family’s health.
"Of all the emotions that come with that win, definitely relief was part of it. I was just glad that I got one over the line," Fleetwood said. He described the victory as "an amazing thing to achieve and an amazing tournament to win," but added that his thoughts quickly turned toward the remainder of the season, including the Ryder Cup.
The Tour Championship victory left Fleetwood, currently ranked world No. 6, with his first PGA Tour title after several near misses and seven wins on the DP World Tour. Despite those European successes, Fleetwood has yet to register a professional tournament win on English soil.
Fleetwood said that milestone — a win in England — remains on his to-do list as he prepares to play the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, a signature stop on the DP World Tour and an event that figures heavily in Ryder Cup preparations. He said the Tour Championship win might take some pressure off heading into the Ryder Cup selection period, but he also warned that maintaining momentum would be a separate challenge.
Fleetwood celebrated the victory "in a sort of mild manner," he said, sharing the moment with team members and supporters. He credited persistence and a measured approach for finally converting opportunities into a title on the PGA Tour, while noting it may be some time before he wins again.
Tournament organizers and Ryder Cup selectors will monitor Fleetwood’s form at Wentworth as teams finalize their plans for the autumn matches. Fleetwood’s combination of international experience, recent form and now a major tour title are likely to factor into discussions as the season progresses.