Bubbly Birthday Boy: 5 Unforgettable Tommy Fleetwood Moments Explored as He Turns 34

When Tommy Fleetwood was a kid, he and his dad, Pete, used to sneak onto Royal Birkdale to play golf. Little did they know, those stolen moments on the course were preparing young Tommy for something way bigger. Fast forward to 2017, and on that very same course, Fleetwood made his first cut in an Open Championship.

Now, that kid from Royal Birkdale is 34, and if you take a look at his career, he’s come a long way. Sure, the PGA Tour win is still on his bucket list (and, honestly, we’re all rooting for him), but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t tasted victory. Back in his amateur days, Fleetwood was a star in the making. He won the 2009 Scottish Amateur Stroke Play Championship and the 2010 English Amateur.

His first professional win came in 2011 at the Formby Hall Classic on the EuroPro Tour, just around his home course. That same year, he added the Kazakhstan Open on the Challenge Tour to his name. And here’s a fun stat: according to golf wizard Justin Ray, Fleetwood’s 24 top-five finishes on the PGA Tour are the most of any player over the past decade without a victory. If anything, it shows how consistent—and downright talented—he’s been.

So let’s take a moment and revisit some of the best moments of Fleetwood’s career.

1. 2017 Open Championship

At the 2017 US Open Championship at Erin Hills, he opened with a solid 67, and while he wasn’t leading the tournament, he still managed to make a little history. How? He became the first golfer to shoot under par at the U.S. Open without actually trying to chase birdies. How cool is that? As Fleetwood puts it, “The thing I told myself was not to do anything stupid and ruin it, just to play sensible golf and see what came along. I certainly didn’t go out there thinking I had to attack the course.”

He ultimately finished tied for 27th, ending the tournament one over par. While it wasn’t the finish he’d hoped for, it was still impressive, especially since he was just getting started in his career. But 2017 wasn’t all about golf for Fleetwood; it was a huge year off the course too. He became a dad for the first time, welcoming his son, Franklin, with his wife, Clare Craig.

2. The 2018 Ryder Cup

Fleetwood’s debut at the Ryder Cup in 2018 was a game-changer. He teamed up with his good friend Francesco Molinari, and together they became a dynamic duo, securing a historic win in the fourball matches. Their chemistry was so good that fans gave them the nickname “Moliwood,” and for good reason—they won all four of their matches together, making history as the first pairing to ever do that.

Their performance was a huge part of Europe’s 17.5–10.5 win over the U.S., and it really put Fleetwood on the map in the Ryder Cup scene. And let’s not forget that same year, Fleetwood came agonizingly close to winning a major, finishing as the runner-up at the U.S. Open.

3. His emotional win at the 2024 Dubai Invitational

Fleetwood kicked off his 2024 season in the best possible way, winning the first-ever Dubai Invitational. He shot a solid 67 in the final round, finishing with back-to-back birdies to beat Rory McIlroy and Thriston Lawrence by just one shot.

While other players around him were making big moves, Fleetwood stayed calm and consistent, as usual. But, of course, things got a little tense when he dropped out of the lead for the first time with a bogey on the 16th. The win was especially sweet for Fleetwood, marking his return to the winner’s circle on the European Tour after a two-year drought.

“I’m very happy,” said Fleetwood. “It was amazing winning. Like almost everybody else in the world of golf, I don’t win anywhere near as much as I would like to, but just that winning feeling is great.”

4. When Tommy Fleetwood caddied for his son Oscar

Fleetwood has had some pretty special moments in his career, but one of the sweetest had to be when he swapped his clubs for a caddie’s bib. He was on the bag for his 17-year-old stepson, Oscar Craig, during a Challenge Tour event. And of course, this pairing paid off well.

Craig had an awesome first round, shooting a 69 (three under par), which put him in a tie for 13th, just four shots off the lead. Fleetwood’s been watching Oscar’s golf career grow, and what better way to support him than by stepping in as his caddy? It’s kind of full circle, too, since Fleetwood himself was a Challenge Tour graduate before going on to win seven times on the DP World Tour.

5. 2024 Olympic Silver Medal

Fleetwood added another incredible chapter to his career when he represented Great Britain at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. He came close to grabbing the gold in the men’s golf competition but ended up with a well-earned silver. It was a close call when he bogeyed the 17th hole from the rough, but he didn’t let that shake his confidence.

He made an up-and-down par on the final hole and shot a solid 66 to finish the tournament at 18 under par. It wasn’t quite enough to catch Scottie Scheffler, who made history with a course-record 62 in the final round to snag the gold. But Fleetwood was just one shot behind, proving once again that he’s more than capable of hanging with the best. Not a bad way to grab silver at the Olympics!

At just 34, Tommy Fleetwood has already made so many amazing memories, both on and off the course. Here’s to more success, happiness, and hopefully that first PGA Tour win coming his way soon!