Tommy Fleetwood Heads Home to The Open While Ignoring Age-Gap Rumors

Tommy Is Playing at The Open This Weekend

Golf star Tommy Fleetwood is getting ready to play at a big golf tournament called The Open. It is happening at a place called Royal Birkdale, which is like playing in his own backyard because he was born in Southport, not far away.

The tournament:

• Starts on Thursday
• Ends on Sunday
• Is hosted by Royal Birkdale

Important Point: Tommy has been playing amazing golf this past year. He even won his first-ever PGA Tour victory (that’s a big professional golf win). Now he wants to win a "major title," which is one of the four biggest trophies in golf.

Who Is Tommy Fleetwood?

Tommy is a 35-year-old professional golfer from England. Besides golf, people also talk a lot about his personal life—especially his wife, Clare.

The Story of Tommy and Clare

Tommy and Clare have a 23-year age gap. Here is how they met and built their family:

• Tommy was starting out as a professional golfer
• Clare, who is 58, became his manager (she helped run his career)
• Their friendship turned into love
• They got married in 2017 in the Bahamas
• They have one son together named Franklin ("Frankie")
• Tommy is also a stepdad to Clare’s two older sons from a previous relationship

Not Everyone Is Kind

Some golf fans have said mean things about their age difference.

• At the Ryder Cup (a team golf competition) in New York last year, spectators shouted rude comments like "Your wife looks like my grandmother."
• Clare has said she felt "paranoia" (worried about what others thought) at first because of the age gap.
• But Team Europe still won, and Tommy helped a lot!

Important Point: The rude comments did NOT bother Tommy or Clare. Tommy told The Times in 2023: "I tell my kids all the time the biggest life skill you can have is finding a great woman. And I did manage that."

Clare Speaks Out

On a 2023 podcast called Performance People, Clare explained:

1. She first said no when Tommy showed interest: *"Of course I turned him down. I was like, ‘Don’t be stupid.’"
2. The age gap was "big news" in their circle, so she felt paranoid.
3. Once they fell in love, they were "in" and didn’t care.
4. Over time, the gossip faded and even the doubters admitted they were wrong.

Tommy Talks About His Family

On the Fore Play podcast (a sports chat show), Tommy said his whole family is super close.

• The older kids are Oscar and Mo (Clare’s sons)
• The youngest is Frankie
• When people ask if he has kids and he says "three," they are shocked by the ages (17, 16, and 6)
• He just explains the older two are step-kids, but he never really thinks of them that way

Quick Recap of Key Facts

• Tommy Fleetwood: 35, golfer, from Southport
• Clare Fleetwood: 58, his wife and former manager
• Married: 2017 in the Bahamas
• Kids: Frankie (together) + Oscar & Mo (Clare’s older sons)
• The Open: Thursday–Sunday at Royal Birkdale
• Age gap: 23 years, but they don’t care!

Summary

Tommy Fleetwood is back on home soil for The Open at Royal Birkdale this weekend, riding great form after his first PGA Tour win. While some fans joke or complain about his 23-year age gap with wife Clare, the couple stays happy and united. They met when Clare managed Tommy, married in 2017, and built a close family with three boys. Mean comments at events like the Ryder Cup didn’t shake them—they’re just focused on love, family, and golf.

FAQ

Q: What is The Open?
A: It’s one of the four biggest annual golf tournaments in the world. This year it’s at Royal Birkdale and runs from Thursday to Sunday.

Q: Why do people talk about Tommy and Clare’s age gap?
A: Clare is 23 years older than Tommy. Some fans and spectators have made jokes or unkind remarks, but the couple says it doesn’t bother them.

Q: How many kids does Tommy have?
A: Three! One son (Frankie) with Clare, and two step-sons (Oscar and Mo) from Clare’s earlier relationship.

Q: Did the rude comments at the Ryder Cup affect Tommy’s play?
A: No. Even with hecklers in New York, Team Europe won and Tommy made important contributions.