Rory McIlroy’s prediction about Tommy Fleetwood could soon age perfectly, with the Englishman in contention to win the 2025 Travelers Championship.
Fleetwood has emerged as a surprise leader heading into the final day of the Travelers Championship, currently sitting three shots clear of Russell Henley and Keegan Bradley.
Whilst big guns such as Scottie Scheffler and McIlroy have struggled for consistency, Fleetwood has flourished, leaving himself a real chance of securing his first-ever PGA Tour title.
With so much on the line heading into the final round, Fleetwood will be happy to know that his Ryder Cup teammate, McIlroy, is confident of his chances.
Rory McIlroy backed Tommy Fleetwood for success
Protests saw the Travelers Championship mired in chaos last year, and Fleetwood will be hoping to avoid such drama this time around.
Anyone who has watched the Merseyside golfer, though, will know there’s bound to be drama around the corner.
That is because Fleetwood has suffered several late heartbreaks during his time on the PGA Tour, with five agonising second-place finishes.
| Events played | Wins | Runner up | Top ten finishes | |
| Tommy Fleetwood PGA Tour stats | 158 | 0 | 5 | 41 |
Fleetwood will be looking to put an end to that suffering, and seemingly has the backing of his European counterpart McIlroy, who has always tipped the Englishman for big things.
Speaking after the opening round of the Players Championship in 2019, McIlroy was insistent that Fleetwood would soon win in the US.
“He is one of the best players in the world, and he’s had his chances already,” said McIlroy of his Ryder Cup teammate. “So, yes, I think it’s only a matter of time for sure.”
Fleetwood faces fight for Travelers Championship title
Fleetwood will no doubt be desperate to put his PGA Tour curse to bed with a win at Cromwell.
To do so, though, he must overcome some stern challenges from the likes of Bradley and Henley.
| Position | Player | Total |
| 1 | Tommy Fleetwood | -16 |
| T2 | Russell Henley | -13 |
| T2 | Keegan Bradley | -13 |
| 4 | Jason Day | -11 |
| T5 | Brian Harman | -8 |
Bradley will be a particular worry to Fleetwood, given that the PGA Tour veteran actually won the Travelers title back in 2023.
Fourth-placed Jason Day could also mount a late challenge if the Englishman fails to build on his current total of -16.
In almost a similar fashion to McIlroy’s Masters triumph earlier this year, the final round of the Travelers could be make or break for Fleetwood’s career.