Tommy Fleetwood set to defend crown at Tour Championship

ATLANTA -- Tommy Fleetwood made many momentous shots during his three-stroke win at last year's Tour Championship.

The tiny tap-in at the 18th hole to claim the 2025 FedEx Cup is one the 35-year-old Englishman will never forget.

"Things move on very, very quickly, but like when I look back, I think the story that I built throughout the summer and I was getting closer and closer, it was kind of a perfect storm up until this point that came to this, and it was a perfect way to finish," he told reporters on Wednesday at East Lake Golf Club.

"Yeah, just the satisfaction of knocking that last -- that little tap-in and knowing that it was done. I think that's probably the biggest thing that sticks with me."

That was the first victory on American soil for Fleetwood, whose numerous close calls include a runner-up effort at the 2018 U.S. Open and a T3 showing at the Masters in 2024.

"It's lovely to come back," Fleetwood said. "I think that was one of the great things about this tournament. I think, first of all, regardless of what happened the year before, when the following season starts off, it's a goal to make it to this point. I think, if you are in Atlanta at this point or you're at East Lake, I think it's symbolic of a great season.

"That's a really nice feeling. I think you see so many familiar faces now over the years here. And, yeah, of course it's always going to hold a special place in my heart for obvious reasons. It's been lovely to come back."

Last year's win in Atlanta remains the only PGA Tour triumph for the World No. 7, who made the 30-man field for this week's playoff finale at No. 9 in the FedEx Cup standings.

Fleetwood's mediocre T47 effort at last week's BMW Championship ended a streak of seven straight top-15 finishes on the PGA Tour, including a T7 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship to kick off the postseason and a T4 at The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

Last year at East Lake, he claimed the trophy and the $10 million top prize by firing four rounds in the 60s to get to 18 under par, three shots clear of Russell Henley and Patrick Cantlay.

"Trophies are cool, but they don't -- like I feel like the moment of winning and what you go through on the back nine and stuff and all of that is a bit more meaningful to me, like I remember that stuff," Fleetwood said.

"Trophies aren't -- like when you have them, it's great. You can look at them. But it's just a piece of silverware. But when the FedEx Cup came and it got delivered, that was cool. I stood and stared at that one for a bit. That's a nice one."

--Field Level Media