Studying Time: 3 minutes
Over the weekend, Tommy Fleetwood received the FedEx Cup — his first PGA Tour victory — and pocketed a $10 million payday within the course of.
For sure, it was a reasonably good Sunday for the 34-year-old golf veteran.
However followers took discover of the truth that Fleetwood’s cheering part was incomplete, as Clare Fleetwood, his spouse of eight years, was not current.
Tommy Fleetwood of England poses along with his spouse Clare Fleetwood after his third spherical of the Dubai Invitational at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Membership on January 13, 2024 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photograph by Warren Little/Getty Photographs)
Golf followers categorical confusion at Clare Fleetwood’s absence
Now, there might have been many causes for this.
The Fleetwoods each hail from England, and so they spend the higher a part of their yr in Dubai.
They’ve a younger son collectively, and Clare has two youngsters from a earlier marriage, so it’s doable that the journey to Atlanta merely wasn’t possible for logistical causes.
However Tommy’s relationship receives extra scrutiny than the marriages of most professional athletes.
Tommy Fleetwood of Crew Europe and spouse Clare Fleetwood attend the Gala Dinner previous to the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf Membership on September 27, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photograph by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Photographs)
That’s as a result of Clare is 23 years Tommy’s senior.
It’s the kind of factor that will most likely cross with out remark if the genders have been reversed.
However as it’s, not many male athletes marry girls who’re greater than a pair a long time older than them, and so, golf followers can’t assist themselves from obsessing over the Fleetwoods’ relationship.
To their credit score, the couple has by no means shied away from discussing their age hole.
Tommy Fleetwood of England poses with the Race to Dubai trophy, companion Clare Craig and son Franklin through the remaining spherical of the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates on November 19, 2017 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photograph by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Photographs)
Throughout a current podcast interview, Clare recalled telling Tommy, “Don’t be stupid” when he proposed (per Web page Six).
She additionally admitted that she was “paranoid” about how their relationship can be perceived by outsiders.
“She just eventually gave in, I think, and thought, ‘I’ll just give him some time.’ … And then I didn’t mess up,” Tommy chimed in.
In one other interview, Tommy admitted that he and Clare “definitely get comments,” however insisted that the age distinction has “never been a thing” to them.
Golfer Tommy Fleetwood (L) and spouse Clare Fleetwood look on from the Royal Field through the Males’s Singles second spherical match between Andy Murray of Nice Britain and Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece throughout day 5 of The Championships Wimbledon 2023 at All England Garden Tennis and Croquet Membership on July 07, 2023 in London, England.
“Clare actually looks very young for her age and I look old — it’s probably all that sun,” Tommy remarked. “She’s incredibly cool and I’m not cool at all, though I am quite mature for my age.”
We would by no means know why Clare wasn’t readily available for Tommy’s huge win. But it surely feels like her absence had nothing to do with the state of their marriage.
And it’s not like Tommy was missing help.
In a post-round interview, he defined that he’s “always so lucky with the support [he] get[s]” from followers, saying it “makes [him] a bit emotional.”
He added, “I’m proud of what I’ve done … and where I’ve been so far knowing I’ve still got a way to go and a lot to learn.”
Notably, Tommy’s stepson Oscar was readily available to assist him have a good time.
