Class Act

Tommy Fleetwood chose golf over the stage. Funny how things worked out.

- John Feinstein

BROOKS KOEPKA WAS TALKING ABOUT Tommy Fleetwood, someone he played a lot of golf with when they were competing on the European Tour several years ago.

“He was fun to play with because he was funny,” Koepka says. “Sneaky funny. Underrated funny. A lot of times he’d say something, and a minute later, you’d get it and start to laugh. He’s that quick.”

Koepka pauses for a moment, smiles and adds, “The Europeans are just funnier than we are. Maybe it’s because they don’t take themselves that seriously.”

There’s no better example of European humor than the video Fleetwood made with Francesco Molinari during the 2018 Ryder Cup victory party in Paris. Fleetwood and Molinari had become the first European team in history to go 4-0 in foursomes and four-ball matches— including three wins over teams that featured Tiger Woods—leading Europe to a 17½-10½ victory. Molinari had beaten Phil Mickelson in singles on Sunday, and Fleetwood had lost to Tony Finau.

Late that night, someone from the European Tour’s staff—the players aren’t the only funny ones—came up with an idea for a video. Shot on a cellphone, it opens with the “Moliwood” duo asleep in bed, the Ryder Cup between them. Molinari wakes up, gives a little start at the sight of Fleetwood next to him, and nudges him several times to wake him up.

Fleetwood—who considered going to drama school to become an actor when he was a teenager—drowsily turns to Molinari and says, “How good was that for you?”