Tommy Fleetwood was one of the golfers who rejected the advances of LIV Golf and he turned to his wife Clare for advice when weighing up the decision

Tommy Fleetwood, the Southport-born Olympic silver medallist from Team GB, candidly shared how he sought counsel from his wife Clare regarding the tempting opportunity to join LIV Golf. The 33-year-old golfer, who delivered a stellar performance at the Paris Olympics, has remained with the PGA Tour, resisting the lucrative offers from the controversial Saudi-backed LIV Golf.

Speaking on an episode of the Performance People podcast, Fleetwood admitted earlier in the year that, despite declining their offer for the third season, the big-money deals had lured many players away. He also highlighted the difference in perspective between him and Clare, noting that while some might find the pay cheques from LIV Golf irresistible, he’s driven more by the quest for personal satisfaction and success in the tournaments themselves than financial gain.

Fleetwood, reflecting on the values underpinning his decision-making process said: “Most people – most sportsmen really, don’t actually do it for the money. I never really played for the money. I can look at what I’ve earned at any given time on any week.”

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However, contemplating the prospect of still being paid handsomely despite poor performances, he added: “Play poorly and I’ll get paid, that would be great. But I also think that’s where for me, I would turn to Clare – and we did at the time, that’s the kind of thing you talk about, because it’s not just you that’s involved in it.

“It’s my passion obviously, but you have a family as well and there’s a lot more decisions that go into it. But ultimately, Clare always says to me ‘it’s what makes you happy and it’s what you feel is best for you’. That was pretty much it wasn’t it? You said ‘will it actually make any difference, is it going to change your life?’

“It won’t change our life,” Clare added, while Fleetwood continued: “And it doesn’t really. Everything that I do is to play as well as I can and get the most out of myself as a golfer, as a sportsman and as an athlete. And that’s all I’ve ever thought about. Whether that’s playing where I am now or playing somewhere else, I would make a decision based on that and not on the money.”

World No. 11 Fleetwood has been vindicated his by runner-up finish at the Games, which he may not have qualified for had he joined LIV. Their events don’t count towards the Official World Golf Ranking, which determines who represents their country.

He was supported in France by Clare, 56, who became his manager when he joined Hambric Sports Management in 2015 before they struck up a personal relationship too. Despite initially rejecting Fleetwood’s advances, they wed two years later after giving birth to their son Franklin.