Tommy Fleetwood, the English golfer, was left without his £120,000 prize money from The Open Championship in 2018 due to a mistaken identity error. The funds were sent to an American golfer also named Thomas Fleetwood, who had previously provided his bank details to the DP World Tour (then the European Tour) when attempting to join their senior tour.
How the Mistake Happened
The error occurred after Fleetwood finished tied for 12th at Carnoustie in 2018. Instead of receiving his winnings, the money was transferred to the wrong Thomas Fleetwood. The American namesake confirmed that the DP World Tour had his banking information on file from a prior application to their senior tour. He told Reuters, "It was an honest mistake. I tried to get on their senior tour, so they have my information."
Fleetwood's Reaction
Fleetwood took the blunder in stride, telling reporters at the time, "It looks pretty genuine. They are looking into it and I'm sure they'll feel pretty bad about it. It's a funny story." Despite the mishap, Fleetwood eventually received the money owed to him. His net worth is estimated at around £25 million, so the missing amount was a fraction of his wealth.
Namesake's Honesty
The American Thomas Fleetwood immediately contacted his bank to report the erroneous deposit. Greg Thorner, a close friend who witnessed the discovery, said, "I didn't believe him at first but then I watched him log into his account and I was like 'Holy crap'. He immediately contacted the bank and told them you've put money into my account that's not mine and unfortunately the money has already been taken out." The funds were eventually recovered.
Fleetwood's Major Pursuit
Now 35, Fleetwood is competing in The Open at Royal Birkdale near his hometown of Southport. He remains one of the finest players on the PGA Tour without a major title, with his best finish being runner-up at the 2019 Open. In 2026, he has yet to record a top-10 finish at any major but hopes to change that at Royal Birkdale.
