A Shocking Exit at Le Golf National
Tommy Fleetwood’s week in France ended before the third round even started. The world number nine had to pull out of the $3.75 million FedEx Open de France on Saturday morning. He was sitting six under par through two rounds and well inside the hunt. That run stopped abruptly due to a sudden health issue that caught everyone off guard. Sam Bairstow and Joe Dean were scheduled to share the tee with the Englishman at 11:23 a.m. local time. All three players held the same score after matching rounds of 69 and 67. No further details on the illness have been released to the public yet. Per Yahoo Sports, the withdrawal came right before he was due to start his round.
This is a tough break for a player who loves this specific track. Fleetwood won this event back in 2017 and holds a silver medal from the 2024 Olympic Games played on these same grounds. He told the DP World Tour before the week began that the course means a lot to him. “I have some incredibly special memories playing in France, and Le Golf National is a course I hold really close to my heart,” he said. Losing a chance to defend his title or add another win here stings, but his health comes first.
A Strong Year Still on Track
One bad weekend does not erase what has been a massive year for the Southport native. Having secured the FedEx Cup victory, he reached world number three in December 2025 before arriving at this event as the ninth-ranked player globally. That season included a huge payday and a title at the DP World India Championship. Six top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour mark his performance this current year, though he has not yet claimed a win. A tied fourth place at the Memorial in June stands as his best result. He also finished tied for fourth at the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in July, closing with back-to-back birdies. The numbers show a player who is steady and dangerous, even without a trophy in his bag yet.
His performance at the TOUR Championship before this trip to France was solid, finishing tied for 11th. The withdrawal hurts his chances to climb the leaderboard this week, but it does little to dent his overall standing. Despite missing the cut at the PGA Championship and tying for 33rd at the Masters, the remainder of his season has shown remarkable consistency. A sudden illness is the only thing stopping him from another strong run on the European circuit.
Next Stop Is Home Soil
Fleetwood is not anticipated to remain sidelined for an extended period. His schedule is already set for next week. He will tee up at the Alfred Dunhill Championship at St Andrews. Playing on his home turf in Scotland should be a great way to reset. The links golf there suits his game perfectly. He knows how to handle the wind and the tough conditions. This event gives him a chance to bounce back quickly after the disappointment in France.
The golf world will be watching to see how he handles the return. A quick recovery and a strong showing at St Andrews would prove this was just a minor bump. Fans know he has the skill to win majors, and this health scare should not change that belief. The tour moves fast, and so does Tommy.
