After gut-wrenching near-miss for gold, Tommy Fleetwood focuses on the positive

Tommy Fleetwood was on the cusp of the greatest achievement of his career at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Playing in the final group, Fleetwood kept pace with his playing partners, Jon Rahm and Xander Schauffele, on the front nine, and, as they began to fade, by the 12th hole, Fleetwood was tied for the lead at 18 under par.

Then, Rahm suffered a shocking double-bogey on the 14th hole to fall out of contention. Meanwhile, a couple of groups ahead, Scottie Scheffler was on a birdie binge, claiming the outright lead with a long birdie on No. 17.

Fleetwood birdied the 16th hole to tie Scheffler at 19 under, but a devastating bogey caused by a poor chip that Fleetwood failed to get up and down on the 17th dropped him one shot out of the lead. When Fleetwood also failed to birdie the final hole, his clutch putt for par secured the silver, and Scheffler claimed the gold by one shot.

It was clearly a gutting finish for the 33-year-old Englishman, who has also never won a major championship, despite finishing in the top 10 eight times, including two runner-ups.

“There’s part of me that’s disappointing, of course, but at the same time, I never dreamt that I would be an Olympic medalist,” he said after the medal ceremony on Sunday. “I’m still unbelievably proud and happy with the way the week went. I was proud of the way I played today. And yeah, I enjoyed it so much. I take that away from it. This was an incredible atmosphere to play in front of this week and to be a part of.

“I haven’t been in the mix that much recently, and I think being back there and playing well and feeling how I felt again, yeah, I enjoyed it so much,” he continued. “I’m unbelievably proud to be an Olympic medalist. I never thought that that would happen.”

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As for the finish, Fleetwood said it was a different feeling to lose the tournament but enjoy chasing a medal.

“Even on the last for me, normally I’d have sort of given that chip a go. I missed it, and I know I’ve lost the tournament but I was still pretty nervous trying to get that silver medal over that 6-footer,” he said. “So that’s a different feeling, as well.”

For Fleetwood, being back in the mix on such a grand stage was a unique and positive experience — and one he said he won’t soon forget.

“It feels unbelievably special,” he said. “I know I didn’t win gold today, and a very good golfer did. Standing on that podium with a medal in front of the crowd was one of the most amazing moments I’ve had as a golfer. So I’ll remember all those times for the rest of my life.

“I’ve certainly loved that back nine,” he continued. “Well, the whole of today but the back nine, in contention, playing very, very well. The leaderboard changed quite a bit, and it was amazing to be a part of. I think the main thing that I take away from it was just the enjoyment, and I was happy with the way I played. I actually never felt unbelievably comfortable with my golf swing this week but it’s funny that there’s plenty of times where I felt great and not got the result out of it. It’s a funny game like that. But I take that away that, really, the enjoyment.

“Stood on the podium there, one of the most special moments of my life and I’ll remember it forever. Yeah, I think it means an awful lot.”