Playoffs are now underway for the PGA Tour, as competition is taking place at the FedEx St. Jude Championship. The field of play features some of the top athletes in the sport of golf, all in search of another win added to the column. For one player in particular being Tommy Fleetwood, things were looking high and just sent off track. As Fleetwood was one round away from his first ever Tour victory, he slipped and ended things tied for third place. Forced to then watch Justin Rose and J.J. Spaun competed in sudden death playoff holes for the victory. Justin Rose managed to hold down his performance and walk away victorious. The unfortunate story lands in reality, Fleetwood will have to continue pushing on for his first ever victory.
Close But Not Enough
Entering the final round of play at TPC Sawgrass, the Englishman is forced to walk away empty handed yet again. After being just a few hours away from his first ever victory, Fleetwood could not hold
off the competition from the field of the best. Ending things tied third with Scottie Scheffler, is a positive walk away but also not the ending Fleetwood wished for. Victories in the Tour are hard to come by, resulting in even the chances being held at such a high honor.
“I don’t know how to feel, I know there is a lot of positives to take although I won’t feel like that right now,” Fleetwood said. “We move on to another week next week, just have to keep trying to put myself into position.”
Putting himself into that position again is a lot easier said than done. Considering this was a key position to execute his first Tour win, emotions are understandably low in some areas of competition. Being able to move forward into next week’s play is the biggest aspect, not staying stagnant or buried in previous tournaments.
The Train Keeps Pushing
The train for Fleetwood will continue on and pushing, although the chances at victory will get smaller in relation. Every tournament poses a different input into the victory equation, like the weather seen throughout play at this tournament.
“All these experiences and close calls, there’s no point in allowing them to have a negative effect on what happens next,” Fleetwood said.
That positive mindset is exactly why Fleetwood has been the ideal pro since 2010, and now amplifying that on a bigger platform. A career with $31,360,699 in earnings shows the success at some points during his run. Although things at St. Jude did not go all the way to plan, the reality is Fleetwood can still be a contender. His third place tie with Scheffler, was good for $1,160,000 in earnings and 650 FedEx points.
The next shot at redemption will be the BMW Championship, beginning August 14th. Previous tournament winner Keegan Bradley will be in search of a back-to-back designation. All eyes will be on this tournament and the golfers who make sudden announcements, for withdrawals or even caddie changes.
