That’s how Tommy Fleetwood summed up his 2025 season earlier this week—a season filled with near-misses, heartbreaks, and hope. But with two rounds remaining in the PGA TOUR season, Fleetwood finds himself with yet another opportunity to flip the narrative.
At the halfway mark of the TOUR Championship, Fleetwood is tied for the lead with Russell Henley after carding a smooth 63 on Friday, a round highlighted by steady ball-striking and just one bogey. The elusive first PGA TOUR win remains within reach—and so does the FedExCup trophy.
Fleetwood needed just one putt outside 25 feet to record Friday’s second-lowest score. He and Henley now hold a two-shot advantage over Cameron Young, while Patrick Cantlay and Robert MacIntyre sit three back in a tie for fourth. Scottie Scheffler, the only player ahead of Fleetwood in overall FedExCup Playoffs performance, is alone in sixth at 8-under.
But it’s Fleetwood’s consistent excellence and unshakable mindset in the face of disappointment that has captured hearts this postseason. His journey has become a masterclass in resilience, both on and off the course.
Related News
Painful Near-Misses, Steady Perspective
Fleetwood’s string of close calls began at the Travelers Championship two months ago. Holding the lead late, he missed a crucial par putt on the 72nd hole—only to see Keegan Bradley bury a birdie from six feet to snatch the win.
Weeks later, Fleetwood was again in contention at the FedEx St. Jude Championship, leading into Sunday’s back nine. He surged ahead with three birdies in four holes but faltered at the finish—unable to convert a birdie at the par-5 16th and missing a 7-foot par putt on 17. He finished a stroke short of a playoff, won by fellow Englishman Justin Rose.
Through it all, Fleetwood has faced the press and public with grace and introspection. “Right now, I would love to just go and sulk somewhere—and maybe I will,” he said after the Travelers. “But there’s no point making it a negative for the future. Just take the positives and move on.”
After another close finish: “I’ve just got to reflect on today, keep pushing forward, and try to put myself in that position again.”
And he has. Fleetwood placed fourth at last week’s BMW Championship and now leads at East Lake. More importantly, he continues to embody the attitude he described earlier this week—being “your own best friend” and finding value in every experience.
“There’s no point making things a negative experience,” Fleetwood said. “You just have to learn from everything and try to do the best you can from there.”
Elite Form Meets Iron Will
Fleetwood has been outstanding statistically at East Lake. He ranks second in Driving Accuracy, Strokes Gained: Approach-the-Green, and Strokes Gained: Putting, all while making just two bogeys through 36 holes. It’s the latest stretch in a brilliant run—six top-10 finishes in his last 11 starts, including multiple top-fives during the Playoffs.
“I think I’m playing really good golf,” Fleetwood said. “Just because things haven’t worked out for me before doesn’t mean they won’t work out this week. I think I’m doing a lot of things well and I’m happy to be in the mix again.”
With two rounds to go, Fleetwood stands on the edge of a breakthrough. The wins haven’t come yet—but the composure, consistency, and courage he’s shown under pressure suggest that moment might be just around the corner.
