What Injury Happened to Tommy Fleetwood’s Caddie? Exploring the Severe Medical Condition Behind the Caddie’s Health

“He’s not been well all year,” said a somber Tommy Fleetwood at the 2024 Masters. He was talking about his longtime caddie and on-course partner Ian Finnis who wasn’t with him during the season’s first major. But now, the two appear to be back together again as the Englishman teed off at the 2024 Genesis Scottish Open. Makes one truly wonder what happened to him!

The two have, interestingly, been working together since 2016. And all this while, Fleetwood’s caddie had only missed one event, the 2018 BMW International Open, until the 2024 Valero Texas Open that is. He then went ahead to miss the event at Augusta National and the RBC Heritage as well. The reason? Well, the looper’s health wasn’t all too good, owing to a heart infection!

Soon after, in April, the PGA Tour Pro’s caddie divulged the actual reason behind his absence. He revealed how he was undergoing surgery to fix an issue with his heart. And by the end of the month, Finnis announced the success of his surgery on Instagram; “Open heart surgery done!! Massive thanks to all at the NHS staff. The road to recovery has started. Thanks for all the love.”

Tommy Fleetwood’s looper also mentioned, in an interview with Telegraph Sport, how he was fortunate to come away the way he is now. “They are not exactly sure what happened,” recounted the bagman, “but bacteria got into a hole in my heart that I’d lived with previously with no problems and then ate away both valves.” He then recalled in gratitude, his surgeon Mr. Generali who fitted a metal valve and miraculously fixed the other one. The alternative was a tissue which would have had to be replaced every seven years.

The golfer, meanwhile, had been expectantly waiting for his OG looper. He was hopeful of the caddie making a full recovery back when he was sick. “Hopefully, he’ll be back out sooner rather than later, ,” conveyed Fleetwood. “The sooner he can get better, the better for all of us. Everybody has been asking about him, which has been great. I know he’ll be desperate to come back out here as soon as possible.” And guess what? He did make a comeback at the Genesis Scottish Open!

Tommy Fleetwood back with Ian Finnis in the Scottish Open

The 33-year-old started off the tournament with a 5-under 65. The golfer did so while carding a flawless round and scoring five birdies. But he didn’t take the credit all for himself for Fleetwood remembered his on-course partner as well. “It feels nice to have had a really good round in his first week, for him more than anything.” The professional also pointed out how everything felt so normal with a really good flow; “He made a couple of great decisions, so it’s not like he’s been away.”

But then curiosity naturally arises. Who helped Tommy Fleetwood with the bags in his looper’s absence? Well, the Englishman employed TaylorMade’s European tour manager, Adrian Rietveld, followed by Gray Moore at the Masters. He had also hired David Clark (Yes, it’s Ian Poulter’s current caddie) after the first major of the season. However, with the longtime looper back, he would surely aim to top the scoreboard at the Genesis Scottish Open and the upcoming Open Championship.