Tommy Fleetwood claims stepson's surgery gives him perspective over fan abuse

Tommy Fleetwood says the experience of his teenage stepson undergoing spinal surgery last month will put into perspective any abuse he gets at the Ryder Cup this week. The Everton fan sealed the winning point for Europe in Rome but remains incredibly popular in the USA. 

His first PGA Tour win at the 164th attempt at the Tour Championships last month was greeted with an outpouring of support from American sporting A-listers from Tiger Woods to John McEnroe.

But come the bearpit at Bethpage Black this week, Fleetwood knows his big smile and redemption story will not save him from being another target of heckling and shouts from the crowd. “It is all part of the week,” he laughed. “That's what an away Ryder Cup should be.”

But the Ryder Cup veteran said having 17-year-old Mo come through surgery back home when he was winning at East Lake showed him: “There are a lot worse things than a few nasty things being said to you.”

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Fleetwood said: “I don't think I will be immune at Bethpage Black. I would like that, I would love that very much, but I don't think so. But you never know. I obviously have a massive affection for the American fans. I play the majority of the year over there and I'm always greeted with the best support. It's amazing. 

"I have an amazing relationship with the fans over there. Again, I'm not going to hold it against them if they're not being as nice to me as usual and and giving me a bit of grief. But I think that's that's what an away Ryder Cup should be - the home crowd do play a big role but they they do so and that's one of the great things about the Ryder cup but I would I would like to think they they'd be okay with me but you never know I won't hold it against them.

“And look there's a lot worse things than you know a few days of you know, an away crowd actually giving you some grief, which I do think, again, I say it should be. I don't think it's done in any nasty form. I think it is part of the week.

“There's the line, and even crossing the line which I'm not saying anybody would, obviously, but we've just watched our 17-year-old boy in hospital getting surgery. I mean, there are a lot worse things than a few nasty things being said to you.”

Mo passed a fitness test and is on Long Island this week and joined his brothers Oscar and Frankie on the world No.7’s practice round yesterday.

And the Fleetwood family will all be looking for a double celebration together on Sunday (Sept 28) with Europe retaining the Ryder Cup on Frankie’s eighth birthday.

“I would love to win with them there,” said Fleetwood. “Those are the things that I really want the most. You see some amazing moments walking off 18th green and the families are there and I've had mine, I don't think I've had my fair share yet. 

"At East lake, it was amazing to have Oscar there, and I'd have loved the whole family to be there. At The Travellers (in June?). Clare, Mo and Frankie were all there and I really thought that when we were going to do it. 

"Frankie was pretty upset after that one. When I won in Dubai in 2023 and Frankie was there with the family and that was a really nice moment like I always look to try and have that moment on the 18th green and I feel like I haven't had it with everyone yet so I'll keep trying for that. I would just love to do it this week.”