22 December 2023 , 15:58
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Tommy Fleetwood has shared a hint of regret over how he secured the all-important winning point to confirm Europe's Ryder Cup victory in October.
Europe regained the Ryder Cup title in style on home soil, as they eased past their American rivals 16.5-11.5 in a week to remember at Marco Simone. For Fleetwood it was a second Ryder Cup win in three starts, having also played a part in the victory in Paris four years earlier.
This time around though the Englishman took the honour of delivering the point that got Europe over the line, defeating Rickie Fowler 2&1 in the Sunday singles after a nervy afternoon in the Italian capital.
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Despite taking the crowning moment it did not exactly go to plan though. Fleetwood won the match at the par-three 17th, after his rival Fowler conceded the European star's birdie putt from close range. At the time, the decision was questioned by many, especially those on the American side.
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And whilst their is no doubt Fleetwood admired the sporting gesture, he would have prefered to hole the winning putt himself. "I loved picking it up, but I would have loved to have knocked it in to win the Ryder Cup as well," Fleetwood told Sky Sports.
"I think the putt was closer than what people would think, but he could have made me holed it!" A whole earlier the drama unfolded as Fleetwood stood on the drivable 16th tee one-up with three to play. Keen to keep his team in it, Fowler attempted to find the green from the tee shot but cut it left.
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Tommy Fleetwood secured the all-important point (AFP via Getty Images)Sadly for the Americans left meant water, allowing Fleetwood to take full advantage. The Englishman hit one of the tee shots of the tournament after Fowler's mistake, finding the green before going on to win two holes on the bounce to secure the important point.
And remarkably, the PGA Tour star revealed he had predicted Fowler's effort into the water earlier that afternoon with inspiration from his iconic 2018 partner, Francesco Molinari. "I've never told anyone this, but I was walking down the 11th hole and something came over me," he added.
"You all get a vice-captain when you play and Fran [Francesco Molinari] was mine every match, then he walked with me for most of the singles... In Paris in my first ever Ryder Cup, the winning moment - and I was stood there on the tee - was when Phil Mickelson put it into the water at the 16th and Fran hit it into the middle of the green. They shook hands and that's how the Ryder Cup was won.
"As I was walking down the 11th, I said to myself that Rickie [Fowler] is going to hit it into the water at the 16th and that's where I'm going to win the Ryder Cup." Of course Fleetwood's prediction was only partially right, as he victory did in fact come at the 17th, but there is no doubt it was worth the wait for the European team after a record-breaking defeat in the U.S. two years earlier.