Fleetwood's win will boost Europe's Ryder Cup hopes

After the agony, the jubilation on the 18th hole at East Lake. Tommy Fleetwood finally had his moment, an outpouring of relief and delight at completing the job. A PGA Tour winner at the Tour Championship and, with it, the FedEx Cup, too.

- JACK RATHBORN

Fleetwood has accumulated a legion of fans in recent years. He had reiterated that his breakthrough on US soil would be done “together”. And that following has grown even stronger after the heartbreaking near misses this year, including an outpouring of “anger” at the Travelers, as a raucous crowd willed Captain America, Keegan Bradley, to victory.

And then again at the FedEx St Jude Championship, when he squandered a two-shot lead with three holes remaining. One of Luke Donald’s Ryder Cup stalwarts could only watch JJ Spaun and an inspired Justin Rose duel in a playoff after his game unravelled. His compatriot and friend’s eventual victory was only a slight consolation as his drought extended.

But no matter the crushing disappointment, Fleetwood’s availability and attitude prevailed, an admirable quality when several players at the top of the game, including Rory McIlroy and Collin Morikawa, have snubbed media duties in the face of adversity this year.