TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

August 23, 2025

Tommy Fleetwood

East Lake Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Have you been confused for Scottie Scheffler before?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: No, actually that's a first. It's not the worst.

Q. You said the start was scrappy. Was there a time where you felt like things clicked and started going in a better direction?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: Not really. I think I got on a really good run with my putting. I thought 5 was a great bounceback. I hit a really good tee shot and a good shot into the green and a good putt, so I played that hole well. 6, I hit two good shots in. But then again, 7 sort of a poorish tee shot, got away with it, holed a long putt.

I just think it was never a round that really flowed for me, but it was difficult. I think it was damp conditions, wasn't cold by any means but obviously different air and windier, and I just found it a bit more difficult today.

But the one thing I was really happy with was my putter. I felt like when I was on the green, talk about flow, things were going really well. Felt like I was reading them great and in a really good rhythm, so that was good.

Q. You changed to the Spider earlier this year, right?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: Yeah.

Q. Were there any changes to the stroke or just a new putter?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: No. Honestly, so it was a Hilton Head, and I felt like I was putting pretty good really at the start of the year, but it was a little bit inconsistent, but I was still putting okay.

I got to Hilton Head and I just felt like trying a different putter just for something different, something different to look at. I knew I was stroking it well, I was putting okay, but just a different energy about my putting.

Got on the putting green with James, with TaylorMade, and we tried a bunch of different putters, and I ended up with a Spider, which I've never played before. A certain way that the lines worked for me that we'd drawn on that helped me line up and then hit the putt, and that's been great.

But I always feel like I do a lot of good things on the greens. I've worked with Phil for a long time. I'm lucky with the team behind me, and the Spider has definitely been a massive help since changing at Hilton Head. I think my putting stats have been really good, and I feel really good on the greens.

Q. You said you've wanted these opportunity. What do you like about the opportunity you have for tomorrow?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: Well, it's where everybody wants to be when you tee it off each week. You want to be in the final group on Sunday or you want to be in contention. I love the fact that I'm playing so well. I love the fact that I'm getting rewarded for my work by being in this position because we all grind so hard, we all practice so hard, but it's been so long where you don't get out of it what you put it. Golf just isn't like that.

I love that I'm up there again, and it's just another chance. It's another opportunity. It's another day where I get to go out and do what I love and enjoy it and be in contention and just go and hit the golf shots, and what is like the best pressure, if you like. We're trying to win a golf tournament and do something very special.

There's definitely different pressures than that, whether it's trying to keep your card or whatever it is. Very excited to go into tomorrow.

Q. What was the key to bouncing back after 15 with birdies at 16 and 17?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: Well, as I was reading my putt on 15, there's a scoreboard directly behind me. I was kind of awarish of scores or where I was, but that was staring straight at me. Even with the double bogey at the time, Patrick hadn't finished with his birdie, so I was still joint leader, still in great position. It was just one bad swing on a very tough hole and that's what can happen.

But I stood up, I actually hit a great tee shot on 16 and it just went too far. I didn't actually think I could reach the bunker, but I was really happy with the tee shot. Got away with the second shot a little bit. It was inches away from going down that right side, which is always going to be tough from there.

I was really pleased with how I bounced back. I still had three holes to play and still 21 holes of the tournament, and I still felt in a very good frame of mind. It's obviously great when it comes off, like you make a couple of birdies after it, but I still felt pretty good.

Q. You told us earlier in the week about your mantra of being your own best friend. How will you be your own best friend leading into tomorrow?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: That's a great question. I've caddied for my kids, and I know what I would say to them, and I think it's all about being very clear with what you're doing, having a great attitude, having a great frame of mind, make sure I'm telling myself all the right things and just commit to those things.

Like I just said, there's only 30 players this week. It could be 100, 150, whatever it is tees Sunday and in contention. That's what everybody wants.

I am lucky enough that I get to be one of those guys, so I'm having the time of my life out there and I'm playing great and I've got to enjoy it while it's happening. You never know. Tomorrow might be my time, it might not, but I'll still have a great time doing it.