Tommy Fleetwood’s Age Gap to Wife Brutally Trolled at Ryder Cup

Tommy Fleetwood may have been smiling on the first tee at Bethpage Black, but some spectators were less kind.

The 34-year-old Englishman endured a series of merciless shouts from the crowd, targeting the 23-year age gap between him and his wife, Clare. The married duo have both addressed their distinct age gap on several occasions, but this didn’t stop the home supporters from utilising it to try and throw him off his game.

Fleetwood, and Ryder Cup partner Rory McIlroy, took on Collin Morikawa and Harris English in Friday’s opening round, and while the Northern Irishman faced boos throughout his appearances, Fleetwood received some particularly targeted heckling.

“Your wife looks like my grandmother,” was reportedly shouted across the course, in an attempt to rattle the PGA Tour winner. The Englishman, however, kept stoic under the verbal pressure and maintained a beaming smile as he and McIlroy posed for a group photograph before launching a strong start, immediately moving 1-up on the first hole with a birdie. They would eventually go on to win their match with ease on the opening day.

Tommy Fleetwood’s Relationship With Clare

Despite the couple’s unusual age gap and the long attracted attention it gets, Fleetwood has always taken it in his stride. He first met Clare when she approached him about a business collaboration, which eventually led to her taking on the role as his manager. Clare rebuffed Tommy’s initial romantic pursuits, but the pair eventually married in 2017.

Clare, when speaking to The Sun, explained that she initially told Fleetwood to not be “stupid”, citing the age gap, but it’s evident that Tommy’s persistence and willingness to take on Clare’s children as his own has created a strong, tight-knit family unit.

Speaking on the Barstool Sports podcast, Fore Play, Fleetwood went into detail about his family life, stating: “The whole family—we’re unbelievably close. There’s Oscar and Mo, and they are the two older ones, and then there’s Frankie.

“I never really think of them as step kids. We’re so close, and when the five of us are together, that’s always our safe space.”

He also told The Telegraph about the lighter moments off the course, like searching for a dress for the Ryder Cup gala with Clare, who’s a passionate Manchester City fan.

Despite the heckling and constant attention surrounding his personal life, and the large age gap, Fleetwood’s focus remains firmly on the Ryder Cup. Alongside Grand Slam champion McIlroy, he looks determined to help Team Europe make a strong start and show that distractions off the golf course won’t affect his ability on it.