Tommy Fleetwood is basically the guy you want to grab a beer with at the 19th hole, only he happens to possess one of the most mechanically sound golf swings on the planet. For years, the conversation around the Englishman has been a mix of genuine admiration and a bit of "when is it actually going to happen?" Especially at the Tommy Fleetwood US Open appearances where he seems to transform into a scoring machine on Sundays, yet somehow, the silver trophy always seems to find its way into someone else's locker.
It’s a weird spot to be in.
You’ve got a guy who has literally made history in this tournament. We aren't just talking about a couple of top-tens here. Fleetwood is the only person in the history of the United States Open to card two different rounds of 63. Think about that for a second. In a tournament designed by the USGA to be the most "brutal" test in golf—where the rough is usually knee-deep and the greens are like putting on a marble kitchen counter—Tommy has treated it like a casual Saturday morning round at his home club in Southport.
The Shinnecock Heartbreak: That 63
Back in 2018 at Shinnecock Hills, the world really saw what the Tommy Fleetwood US Open potential looked like. He started the final round six shots back. Most people had already handed the trophy to Brooks Koepka. But then Tommy started making putts from everywhere. He drained a 57-footer on the second hole.
By the time he got to the 18th green, he was staring at a birdie putt for a 62. It would have been the lowest round ever recorded in a major at that time. He missed it. Just barely.
- The Score: 63 (matched the tournament record).
- The Result: Solo 2nd.
- The Gap: One single stroke.
He walked off the course and basically said he wanted a 62. That’s the mindset. He knew he left it out there. Even when he’s making history, he’s thinking about the one that got away. Honestly, that’s been the theme of his career until very recently.
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The Repeat Performance at LACC
Fast forward to 2023 at the Los Angeles Country Club. Same story, different coast. Tommy enters Sunday 12 shots back. Nobody is looking at him. Then, he goes out and eagles the 6th. He eagles the 14th. Suddenly, he’s in the clubhouse with another 63.
It’s almost a joke at this point.
He became the first player to ever record two 63s in the US Open. But again, he started too far back. He finished T5. It’s this weird paradox where he is clearly one of the best US Open players of this generation, but the timing of his charges always seems to be just a little bit off.
Why the US Open Suits Him
It’s not an accident that he plays well here. The US Open rewards guys who can drive it straight and keep their head when things go sideways. Tommy is 8th on Tour in Bogey Avoidance. He doesn't beat himself. While other guys are snapping clubs after a double-bogey on a par-3, Tommy just adjusts his hair, smiles at the crowd, and hits the next fairway.
His stats are kind of wild:
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- Strokes Gained Total: He consistently ranks in the top 5 (currently 2nd in 2025).
- Putting: He’s 20th in SG: Putting this year, which is a massive improvement from his earlier career.
- Iron Play: His approach shots are his bread and butter, though he’s struggled slightly with distance compared to the bombers like Bryson or Rory.
The Pinehurst and Oakmont Struggles
It hasn't all been 63s and sunshine. The Tommy Fleetwood US Open record also includes some head-scratchers. At Pinehurst No. 2 in 2024, he finished T16. Not bad, but never really "in it." Then 2025 happened. Oakmont is a beast, and it chewed him up. He shot 74-75 and missed the cut entirely.
It was a reality check. Even the King of Sunday 63s can't survive the US Open if his driver goes cold on Thursday.
The 2025 Breakthrough
We have to talk about the elephant in the room. For a long time, the "best player without a PGA Tour win" label was stuck to Tommy like glue. It was annoying. Fans hated it, and you know he did too.
But 2025 changed everything.
He didn't just win a tournament; he won the whole damn thing. Taking down the FedEx Cup at East Lake was the validation he needed. He shot a 63 in the second round there, too. Sensing a pattern? When the pressure is at its absolute peak, Fleetwood has this gear that very few people on earth possess.
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What We Get Wrong About Tommy
People look at his "nice guy" persona and think he lacks the "killer instinct" of a Tiger or a Brooks. That’s nonsense. You don’t shoot multiple 63s in major championships by being "too nice." You do it by having a pathological level of focus.
The main limitation has always been his distance. He’s 123rd in driving distance. At a modern US Open, that’s a massive handicap. He has to work twice as hard with his long irons just to keep pace with the guys hitting wedges into par-4s.
Lessons for Your Own Game
If you're watching Tommy to improve your own golf, don't look at the swing—it's too unique to copy. Look at his temperament.
- Accept the Bogey: In his best US Open rounds, he accepts that the course is going to win some holes. He doesn't try to "force" a birdie after a mistake.
- Target Selection: He is a master of hitting to the fat part of the green.
- The Sunday Charge: He proves that if you just stay patient for 54 holes, the course usually "gives" you a score on Sunday if you're prepared to take it.
What’s next? He’s now a PGA Tour winner and a FedEx Cup champion. The only thing left is a Major. Given his history, the US Open is the one he’s most likely to snag. He’s already shown he can break the course records; he just needs to do it when he’s actually within three shots of the lead on Saturday night.
Actionable Insights for Following Tommy's Career:
- Watch his Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee numbers during the first two rounds of any Major. If he's in the top 20, he's almost guaranteed a top-5 finish.
- Keep an eye on his equipment changes; his move to a more stable putter in late 2024 was the catalyst for his 2025 success.
- Expect him to be a focal point in the 2025 Ryder Cup, where his partnership with the younger European stars is expected to be the "engine room" for Team Europe.