Golf star Tommy Fleetwood has faced taunts and attention over his 23-year age gap with his wife Clare, who admitted she was 'paranoid' about their relationship. The Southport-born golfer is set to compete in the Open at Royal Birkdale this weekend, running from Thursday to Sunday. Fleetwood has been in stellar form, winning his first PGA Tour event last year, and now aims to secure a major title.
Relationship and Family Background
Fleetwood, 35, met Clare, 58, when she was his manager as he established himself as a professional golfer. Their romance blossomed, and they married in 2017 in the Bahamas. The couple have a son, Franklin, and Fleetwood is stepfather to Clare's two sons from a previous relationship, Oscar and Mo, now 17 and 16.
Speaking on the Fore Play podcast, Fleetwood said: 'The whole family - we're unbelievably close. There's Oscar and Mo, and then there's Frankie. When people ask if I have kids, I say I have three, and then I have to explain the first two are step-kids, but I never really think of them as step-kids.'
Cruel Taunts at Ryder Cup
During the 2025 Ryder Cup in New York, American fans taunted Fleetwood with remarks like 'Your wife looks like my grandmother.' The attempts failed, as Europe won the event with Fleetwood playing a pivotal role. Clare revealed her initial 'paranoia' on the Performance People podcast in 2023, saying: 'The age gap was big news in our circle, so I was a little bit paranoid about what other people were thinking all the time. But once we fell in love, that's it. We were in.'
Overcoming Doubts
Clare initially turned Fleetwood down, saying 'Don't be stupid.' She added: 'People saw us and knew it meant something. Then it was just navigating through the gossip. The doubters have redeemed themselves and admitted they doubted wrongly.' Fleetwood told The Times in 2023: 'The biggest life skill you can have is finding a great woman. And I did manage that.'
