Tommy Fleetwood’s age-gap wife 23 years his senior and sports star stepson

Tommy Fleetwood is in the mix at The Open as the final round comes to a head at Royal Birkdale Golf Club

Tommy Fleetwood is right in the thick of it as The Open at the Royal Birkdale Golf Club heads towards its conclusion.

With the Englishman heading into the back nine, he is just two shots off the lead on eight under, chasing down the man in front Sam Burns, who is currently 10 under.

Fleetwood has long been considered one of the finest players never to have won a major, yet there is an outside chance that this could be about to change.

As the 35-year-old readies himself for another shot at golfing immortality, he does so with the backing of a tight-knit family unit that has played a central role in shaping his career.

Wife Clare and their 23-year age gap

Fleetwood is married to his long-standing manager Clare Fleetwood, who is 23 years his senior.

The couple first crossed paths as Fleetwood was carving out his career as a professional golfer, with Clare taking on the role of his manager. Their professional bond eventually developed into romance, and the pair tied the knot in 2017 in the Bahamas.

The age gap has occasionally drawn public curiosity, though Fleetwood has consistently dismissed any outside interest, preferring to keep attention firmly on golf and family life.

“I tell my kids all the time the biggest life skill you can have is finding a great woman,” Tommy told The Times in 2023. “And I did manage that.”

Clare, meanwhile, has also spoken openly about their age difference. “We’ve got a 23-year age difference,” Clare, 57, revealed on a 2023 episode of the Performance People podcast, explaining why she initially resisted dating Tommy, 35.

“Of course I turned him down. I was like, ‘Don’t be stupid.'”.

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,” she admitted.

“But once we fell in love, that’s it. We were in. People saw us and knew it meant something,” Clare went on.

“And then it was just navigating through the gossip, basically. And the people who were the doubters have redeemed themselves and admitted they doubted wrongly.”

The pair share one son, Franklin, while Fleetwood is also stepfather to Clare’s two sons from an earlier relationship.

In recent years the family moved from the UK to Dubai, where Fleetwood has experienced some of the most fruitful years of his career.

Speaking previously about competing in tournaments in the emirate, Fleetwood said: “My whole family is here, there are so many familiar faces, and the course is just around the corner from home.”

Talented golfer stepson

One member of the Fleetwood household is already establishing himself in golf.

Clare’s son Murray Craig, 17, is considered one of England’s most promising junior talents and recently secured a place in the prestigious Curry Cup after impressing on Stephen Curry’s Underrated Golf Tour.

Craig — often known as ‘Mo’ — clinched his spot after triumphing in a play-off at the season-opening European event at The Belfry, securing one of the highly sought-after places at the season-ending tournament in the United States.

The Underrated Golf Tour was founded by NBA superstar Stephen Curry to open doors for gifted young golfers from underrepresented backgrounds, and has swiftly established itself as one of the most prominent junior circuits in the sport.

Craig’s achievement means he will tee it up at Bethpage Black later this year, affording him yet another chance to demonstrate his abilities on the international stage.

Speaking to Town and Country, Fleetwood said of ‘Mo’: “Our middle boy, he doesn’t really respect my opinions very much.

“He doesn’t really listen that much. He likes having his own mindset and doing things, but then he’ll ask me afterwards. I don’t mind at all. I’d like to think I’m pretty chilled, but I don’t know. You’ll have to ask the others that; hopefully I hide my emotions behind it.”

He added: “My kids become my biggest sort of motivation.

“I want to be the best example for them as well… I do feel like there’s times when I achieve things and I love being able to show them that dreams are possible. I love that. That’s where I get my most satisfaction.”