Tommy Fleetwood finally broke through on Sunday, capturing his first PGA Tour victory with a $10 million win at the Tour Championship. The English golfer, long considered one of the best players without a victory on American soil, closed with a steady 2-under 68 to secure a three-shot win.
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Fleetwood, 33, was surrounded by friends and colleagues as he soaked in the moment. But one person was notably absent. His wife, Clare, watched from home rather than join the celebration.
The couple, married since 2017, has long drawn attention for their 23-year age gap. Clare, now 57, has admitted the scrutiny has not always been easy. Speaking on the Performance People podcast in 2023, she acknowledged feeling "a little paranoid" about public chatter, especially early in their relationship.
"It was kind of not actually for us, but it was just again thinking what other people are thinking about all the time and within the industry," Clare said, via the New York Post. "It was kind of big news in our circle, so I was a little bit paranoid about all that, really. But not for any reason of our relationship, and I had full faith once we fell in love."
The two met in 2015 through Fleetwood's brother, with Clare initially working as Fleetwood's agent. She resisted his advances at first, citing the age difference. "Of course, I turned him down," she recalled. "I was like, 'Don't be stupid.'"
Eventually, the pair married and built a family together. Clare has two children from a previous marriage, along with their son Frankie, who lives with them in the United Arab Emirates. She continues to manage Fleetwood's career, handling everything from sponsorships to logistics.
"I know everything on every side - the sponsorship side, the logistics side, the PR side, the accounts side, everything," Clare said. "Maybe sometimes too much, because then that's all I think about sometimes. I don't see it as a lifestyle choice necessarily. I'll look at it as a business choice as well."
For Fleetwood, Sunday's win was a release after a string of near-misses, including blown leads earlier this summer at the Travelers and St. Jude's.
"It's easy to say you're resilient but it's hard when you have to be," Fleetwood said. "I feel lucky I've had to show that side of myself. And I feel lucky that it's paid off."
