Tommy Fleetwood’s first win on the PGA Tour has sparked plenty of excitement, but Rory McIlroy has demonstrated that he could struggle after achieving his goal

Tommy Fleetwood won his first PGA title last week and could learn from Rory McIlroy’s mistakes(Image: Alex Burstow/Getty Images)

Tommy Fleetwood’s breakthrough on the PGA Tour has reverberated through the golfing world, with his former coach believing the triumph could “open the floodgates” for future victories.

The 34-year-old Englishman finally secured his first PGA Tour title at the Tour Championship in Atlanta over the weekend, banking an eye-watering $10 million in prize money and capturing the FedEx Cup after a superb display. Fleetwood’s victory arrived on his 164th attempt to claim a PGA event, coming after a series of heartbreaking near-misses that included six second-place finishes and 30 top-five showings.

Norman Marshall, who coached Fleetwood and currently operates the Tommy Fleetwood Academy at Formby Hall near Liverpool, views the accomplishment as a possible game-changer. “He’s now got a deep, deep reservoir of self-belief and confidence. He’s got the monkey off his back,” Marshall told the BBC. “This could open the floodgates.”

That observation mirrors the hope that surrounds many victories in golf, where a single win is predicted to lead to many more. Yet as Rory McIlroy has shown this year, it isn’t always that simple.

In April, McIlroy finally triumphed at the Masters, finishing his career Grand Slam and placing his name among golfing greats like Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. The Holywood native, who had pursued the green jacket for more than a decade, was predicted to enter a new period of supremacy, unburdened by the pressure after defeating Justin Rose in a playoff to claim the Green Jacket.

“This is the one I’ve dreamed of,” McIlroy said after his victory. Golf fans and analysts believed that many more titles would soon follow. However, the truth has not been as straightforward, with his form suffering an immediate dip after the Masters.

Rory McIlroy initially struggled after winning the Masters in April(Image: Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

He tied for 47th at the PGA Championship before finishing T19 at the U.S. Open. He showed improvement at the Open Championship, but could only manage a T7 finish. There have been numerous theories about why Rory McIlroy’s winning streak slowed. Some suggest a lack of motivation after securing all four major titles, while others point to off-course distractions like his involvement in the PGA Tour-LIV Golf drama.

Regardless of the reason, McIlroy’s situation serves as a reminder to Fleetwood that even the most gifted players can experience downturns and momentum can soon disappear. However, Fleetwood’s circumstances are quite different from McIlroy’s.

He is still on the hunt for his first major title, having narrowly missed out in the past, being runner-up at the 2018 U.S. Open and the 2019 Open. Unlike McIlroy, who had already racked up 24 PGA Tour victories before his Masters win, Fleetwood’s triumph is his first taste of PGA success.

An Olympic silver medalist from last year’s Paris Games and a Ryder Cup hero, having secured the decisive point for Europe in Rome in 2023, Fleetwood certainly has the potential to build on this recent victory.

Tommy Fleetwood won the Tour Championship by three shots to claim the FedEx Cup(Image: Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)v

“I’ve always had the mindset that I want to win multiple, I want to win plenty,” Fleetwood admitted on Sunday. “The first one seems to have taken a long time. The next one might take a long time… I don’t know.”

Fleetwood’s determination is even more admirable when considering his previous disappointments, such as surrendering a two-shot advantage at the Travelers Championship in June. However, McIlroy’s journey highlights that a second victory may not come easily for Fleetwood.

Golf is decided on the thinnest of margins, a combination of mental strength and unwavering preparation is vital. For Fleetwood, his major championship ambitions should provide sufficient drive. Yet, success won’t automatically materialize.

For now, Fleetwood can savor his Tour Championship win as a massive step forward, though the ultimate challenge awaits. As Marshall’s academy philosophy states: “You don’t lose – you either learn or you win.”

Fleetwood has absorbed many valuable lessons. Now, he must continue his pursuit to ensure those floodgates do open, as forecasted by his former coach.