Tommy Fleetwood’s Father Shares Painful Memory of Son in Tears After Golf Upset

Tommy Fleetwood is teeing it up at Bethpage in less than 2 weeks. But there was a time the young golfer cried over his scores. In a quirky anecdote brought up by his father, Pete Fleetwood, fans witness the human side of the golfer. Not only does it highlight Fleetwood’s passion for the sport, but it also underscores his emotional resilience and parental support growing up.

Fleetwood recently posted a video on his YouTube channel titled ‘How Golf Changed My Life Forever.’ In that video, the European Ryder Cup star took everyone on a journey of his advent into golf. Picking up the clubs at just 6 years old, Fleetwood immediately fell in love with golf. “As soon as he started playing it, he loved it. You couldn’t stop him,” his father revealed. “As soon as he got home from school, “Dad, golf course.” And you could tell straight away — that’s a good golf swing.” This brings to light Fleetwood’s passion for swinging, who couldn’t wait until he teed it up at the greens. One anecdote perfectly summed up that drive.

“There used to be a tournament going around the country called the Weetabix, and he was eight. He won a little qualifying contest to get in that,” Fleetwood’s father recalled. The Weetabix Age Group Championships were a series of junior golf tournaments open to boys under 16 and girls under 17. It provided an opportunity to the teenage challengers of Great Britain and Ireland to showcase their talent against golfers of their own age. However, Fleetwood’s incredible talent early on had him in the competition playing against much more experienced golfers. Needless to say, that didn’t end well for Fleetwood.

Fleetwood failed to make the cut, and the lore gets its spice here. “Couldn’t reach the fairways. I think he cried all the way around. He shot 132, and he still insists it was 131,” his father further shared. The experience humbled him. But the crazy thing is, Fleetwood might still hold the belief he made 131, which no one can attest. But Fleetwood’s father confirms he shot 132: “It goes crazy when I say it was 132.” However, beyond these sobering experiences, Fleetwood flaunted his skills ever since he was a kid.

In the same video, Fleetwood shared a clip of himself at the Forby Hall Golf Club at 7. The interviewer asked the determined 7-year-old Fleetwood whether he had snagged any more wins ever since they last met. Not only did it hint at previous victories, but it also brought up the young hopeful’s increasing resume. “Yeah, I won the 16 Junior Cup and a trophy called Devil,” the 7-year-old Fleetwood revealed. The 16 Junior Cup underscored Fleetwood’s potential, already challenging much older competitors. Known for its challenging courses, the Devil Trophy further cemented Fleetwood’s technical and mental mastery.

Fast forward to 2025, the English golfer has strung 31 top-5 finishes and 6 runner-ups before his long-awaited PGA Tour title. At East Lake, Fleetwood brought a unique mix of understanding of the technical intricacies and grit, storming through the event at 18-under. Now with kids of his own, Fleetwood has grown quite a lot with the sport, influencing his perspective.

“I’m a big believer in the game of golf, the good it does. I’m passionate about the game. It’s given me so much in my life,” Fleetwood added candidly. For the PGA Tour pro, being a good, hardworking person comes before any trophy or title. “My dad’s always taught me, you know, I was a person first and whatever I do in golf comes second.” This attitude of Fleetwood is clearly reflected in his love for his family, which is always his first priority. “The whole family, we’re unbelievably close,” Fleetwood shared in a Fore Play podcast. “The first two are stepkids, which honestly, I never really think of them as stepkids. I’ve been around a long time now … The relationship that we have, we’re so close.”

Fleetwood’s dedication to character and family doesn’t diminish his love for the game itself. His unwavering passion for golf continues to drive him, and his family has been an undeniable part of it.

Tommy Fleetwood’s undying passion for golf

Tommy Fleetwood might not have been exceptional at other sports, but golf was always his thing. That made him hooked on the sport ever since he first picked up the clubs. “I was hooked the first time I tried it. And as a young kid, I was always distinctly average at every sport. Golf I was pretty good at. So I enjoyed it the most. It was always my favorite thing to do,” Fleetwood remarked.

As a child, Fleetwood and his father would often sneak into the Royal Birkdale Golf Club together and practice their swings. It appears that Fleetwood didn’t like any time constraints when it came to training. “I wanted to practice for however long, and my dad would do it with me if I wanted him to.” The best part was that his father caddied for him well into his early career days, ending in 2011 owing to knee problems. However, Fleetwood still seeks advice from his father, exemplifying their relationship.

Quipping on the role of his parents, Fleetwood added, “My dad had a good eye for my swing and the game. My mom drove me everywhere, wherever I wanted to go. They had a great balance of being tough but encouraging.” Doubtless, Tommy Fleetwood’s current success on the circuit is due to his undying love for golf, hardworking nature, and a strong pillar of parental support.