Tommy Fleetwood reveals stepson's spinal surgery kept family from Tour Championship win

Key facts

• Fleetwood won the Tour Championship on August 25, 2025, at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta.
• He defeated Patrick Cantlay and Russell Henley by three strokes.
• Fleetwood's stepson Murray had spinal surgery a month before the victory.
• Murray spent three and a half weeks in hospital after the operation.
• Fleetwood's stepson Oscar attended the tournament; wife Clare stayed home to care for Murray.
• Fleetwood is an automatic qualifier for Team Europe at the 2025 Ryder Cup.
• Fleetwood was named global brand ambassador for Blackstone.
• He won a silver medal at the 2024 Olympics representing Team GB.

A victory shadowed by a family health crisis

When Tommy Fleetwood lifted the FedEx Cup trophy on August 25 at East Lake Golf Club, the $10 million prize and his first PGA Tour victory were overshadowed by an absence. His wife, Clare, and their middle son, Murray, were not in the gallery. Speaking to reporters Wednesday ahead of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club, Fleetwood revealed the reason: Murray had undergone spinal surgery just over a month earlier. “Our middle boy, Mo [Murray], had a spinal operation just over a month ago now. So they were unable to travel,” Fleetwood said. “Actually, the week of Memphis, they were in the hospital and he was recovering, and then eventually got home just before we got home. He had three and a half weeks in the hospital, so that’s why they weren’t there, but Oscar came out to be with me.” The disclosure adds a deeply personal dimension to what was already an emotional triumph for the 34-year-old Englishman, who had been on the PGA Tour since 2018 without a win until that day.

The family behind the champion

Fleetwood’s family has been a constant presence throughout his career. He married Clare, now 57, eight years ago, and she has been a fixture at tournaments. The couple have a son, Franklin, together. Clare also has two sons from a previous marriage: Oscar and Murray. Oscar, who was at East Lake to see Fleetwood’s victory, is the eldest; Murray is the middle child. During the Tour Championship, it was reported that Clare was watching from home. Fleetwood now confirms that she was tending to Murray, who was recovering from the major operation. The family’s ordeal lasted weeks: Murray was hospitalized for three and a half weeks, returning home just before Fleetwood arrived back from Atlanta. Fleetwood told reporters that Murray will be in attendance at the BMW PGA Championship this week, a sign that the recovery is progressing well.

A career-defining victory and its aftermath

Fleetwood’s win at the Tour Championship was a watershed moment. He entered the final round with a lead and held off challenges from Americans Patrick Cantlay and Russell Henley, finishing three strokes clear. The victory, which also earned him the FedEx Cup, capped a season that saw him rise to world No. 6. The win was particularly significant given Fleetwood’s history. He had been a consistent performer on the European Tour and in Ryder Cups, but a PGA Tour title had eluded him since he joined the circuit in 2018. The $10 million prize was the largest of his career. Since then, Fleetwood has been named a global brand ambassador for Blackstone, the investment firm. He also received an honorary fellowship, though details of the awarding body were not disclosed.

Looking ahead: BMW PGA Championship and Ryder Cup

This week, Fleetwood is competing in the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club in England, a DP World Tour event that tees off Thursday and runs through Sunday. It is a homecoming of sorts, and with Murray expected to be present, the tournament carries added emotional weight. Later this month, Fleetwood will represent Team Europe at the Ryder Cup. He qualified automatically as one of the six automatic qualifiers, a testament to his consistent form. Europe triumphed at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Italy, and Fleetwood was part of that winning team. He is two years removed from that victory and will be looking to contribute again. Fleetwood’s 2025 season has also included a silver medal at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, where he represented Team GB. He made his TGL debut in a win for Los Angeles over Boston Common.

A broader context: Fleetwood’s place in golf

Fleetwood’s rise has been steady rather than meteoric. He first gained attention on the European Tour, where he won the Race to Dubai in 2017. His Ryder Cup performances have been stellar, earning him the Nicklaus-Jacklin Award in 2025 for his contributions to Europe’s victory. Off the course, Fleetwood has become a marketable figure. His partnership with Blackstone and his honorary fellowship reflect his growing stature. The 8-year-old Frankie Fleetwood, presumably a relative, also made headlines during the Masters Par 3 Contest, stealing the show. Fleetwood’s story is one of perseverance and family. The spinal surgery revelation adds a layer of humanity to a champion often seen as stoic.

What comes next

Fleetwood will tee off at the BMW PGA Championship with his family by his side, a full circle from the lonely victory in Atlanta. His form will be scrutinized as the Ryder Cup approaches, where Europe will defend its title. For Fleetwood, the personal and professional are now intertwined. The spinal surgery that kept his family away from his greatest triumph has also brought them closer. As he said, “Oscar came out to be with me,” but this week, Murray will be there too. The FedEx Cup champion is no longer just a golfer; he is a symbol of resilience, both on and off the course.

The bottom line

• Fleetwood’s family absence at the Tour Championship was due to his stepson Murray’s spinal surgery, which required three and a half weeks in hospital.
• Fleetwood won the FedEx Cup and $10 million, his first PGA Tour victory, by three strokes over Cantlay and Henley.
• He is an automatic qualifier for Team Europe at the 2025 Ryder Cup and won the Nicklaus-Jacklin Award.
• Fleetwood has been named a global brand ambassador for Blackstone and received an honorary fellowship.
• He won a silver medal at the 2024 Olympics and made his TGL debut in a winning effort.
• The BMW PGA Championship this week marks the first time his family will be together since the surgery.