In 2023, when Tommy Fleetwood got the win for Team Europe at Rome on just his 17th hole, the entire team rejoiced. But, behind the scenes, there’s a figure who influenced the trajectory of that game. That is none other than Fleetwood’s wife, Clare. She moved the needle for the team, nudging Captain Luke Donald. Let’s uncover the story behind one of Team Europe’s most crucial decisions.

Fleetwood told the Fore Play Podcast host Soly about it in a recent episode. Soly nudged Fleetwood about a specific question in the Tour Championship press conference about how the captains had set him up for success, where Fleetwood had gone over the singles order in the Ryder Cup. Fleetwood went into detail over a conversation he had with Clare that made Donald put him back on the 11th.

The story starts at Whistling Straits in the 2021 Ryder Cup. Fleetwood went out 11th on the singles order. That disappointed the Englishman, since the US team had already crumbled by the time Fleetwood’s time even came. That made him feel his point carried no worth to the team’s victory. “For us being at the back, you know, you have pride in your point, of course you do, and you want to play well, but it’s a bit deflating then being at the back. Either deflating or, you know, we’d won the Ryder Cup,” Fleetwood shared.

That made Fleetwood reluctant when the 2023 Ryder Cup approached. Confiding in his wife, Clare, Fleetwood quoted his conversation on the podcast. “You know, I feel like I know where Luke’s going to put me and I really want to go there. Like, I played 11th last time, I’ve just got this feeling I’m going to go out back end again, like 11.” Revealing his feelings on the order, Fleetwood added, “Well, you know, if we start off great, the Ryder Cup will be over and I’ll kind of want to celebrate at that point, or I won’t really be that interested in my point. But then it actually could come down to us back there, and if it does, then there’s a lot of pressure at that point if it’s not going how we want it to go.”

However, Fleetwood didn’t confront Donald about this. Although he did share his feelings with his teammates Shane Lowry and Robert MacIntyre. But it was Clare who passed on the thought to Donald. When the singles order came, Fleetwood found himself back in the 11th.

Fleetwood understood the pressure of being at the back of the order. However, his past experiences of feeling worthless made him bitter towards the decision. Fleetwood initially opposed Donald’s verdict to place him at 11th again. However, the showdown on Sunday shifted his perspective forever.

Team Europe was leading 10½ – 5½ after the first two rounds. For the team to bring the Ryder Cup home, they needed a total of 14½ points. This meant the team needed 4 more points on the final day for the win. The team started strong, Jon Rahm halving against Scottie Scheffler, and Tyrell Hatton, Viktor Hovland, and Rory McIlroy bringing their individual wins. That left Europe 1 point shy of the win, and the extreme last player, Fleetwood, on the hunt. Up against Rickie Fowler, Fleetwood’s victory served as a crucial point in Europe’s win.

And Fleetwood served the win on the 16th. Fowler, already 2 down, drove the ball into the water. With no realistic way of winning the hole, Fowler conceded the hole to Fleetwood. That guaranteed half a point for Fleetwood, closing the match early in Europe’s favor. On the 17th, Fleetwood drove a birdie, ultimately finishing 3&1. However, Team Europe had already won on the 16th, reaching 14 points, and no way for the US to catch up to that.

After the win, Fleetwood had stayed around for an interview when he spotted Donald. No one could have prepared Fleetwood for what Donald said next. “He was like, “You know, are you happy that I put you out number 11? Or not too upset that you’re out 11th now?” Or something like that.” Donald revealed the confidence he had in Fleetwood, which made him sure no one could handle the back order better than him. “It was a really good moment. He probably said about the confidence he had in me to put me back there and how it all worked out,” Fleetwood exclaimed.

Clare might have influenced Donald’s decision. But it was the captain who trusted Fleetwood with the order. Looking back, Tommy Fleetwood shared his gratitude towards the decision he was against earlier.

Tommy Fleetwood revealed Luke Donald’s contribution to his Ryder Cup career

Tommy Fleetwood’s relationship with Luke Donald is truly a showstopper. Fleetwood understands the place of the Ryder Cup captains in bringing out the best in the players. But Donald seems to have a special place in Fleetwood’s heart. “I’ve always been close with Luke. We love having him as the Ryder Cup Captain, he’s always there speaking to the players,” Fleetwood shared.

Fleetwood often learns a lot from Captain Donald. Without a doubt, Fleetwood’s strong putting game came through conversations with Captain Luke Donald. “I’ve worked with (putting coach) Phil Kenyon for a long time but Luke is so good to chat to about the game,” Fleetwood praised Donald. “I mean he was the best player in the world for quite a long time and he was the best putter in the world and the best at a lot of other things. So it’s always good to pick his brain.”

Luke Donald’s guidance has been pivotal in Fleetwood’s Ryder Cup career, giving him trust, confidence, and crucial support. Even with the Ryder Cup singles order, Donald showed that trust in Fleetwood. Fleetwood didn’t disappoint either. Moving ahead, Fleetwood would want to retain that trust, putting forward the game that got him his first PGA Tour title.