English golf star Tommy Fleetwood has withdrawn from this week’s Open de France, pulling out before the start of the third round on Saturday morning due to illness.
Fleetwood, the World No. 9, was well placed in the tournament at Le Golf National, six-under-par through two rounds after recording scores of 69 and 67. His withdrawal means he will take no further part in the competition.
Withdrawal Confirmed Ahead of Third Round
The decision for Fleetwood to withdraw was announced ahead of his scheduled tee-off time of 11:23 am local time. Organisers posted a message on the DP World Tour website confirming that Fleetwood had to withdraw due to illness, although no further details were given regarding the nature of his condition, according to Golf Channel and The Daily Gazette.
At the time of his withdrawal, Fleetwood was seven shots off the pace, with fellow Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick holding the overnight lead on 13-under-par. Denmark’s Jeff Winther was one shot behind Fitzpatrick as the third round was set to begin.
Fleetwood’s Strong Connection to Le Golf National
Le Golf National, on the outskirts of Paris, holds significant sentimental value and a strong competitive history for Fleetwood. He is a former champion of the Open de France, having won the tournament in 2017. Furthermore, he secured a silver medal at the iconic venue during the 2024 Olympic Games.
The course also marked his Ryder Cup debut in 2018, where he famously won all four of his matches alongside Francesco Molinari. Ahead of this week’s tournament, Fleetwood expressed his affection for the venue to the DP World Tour, stating, “I have some incredibly special memories playing in France, and Le Golf National is a course I hold really close to my heart.” He added, “The FedEx Open de France is one of the world’s oldest national opens, and it’s always a privilege to tee it up in an event with such history. I look forward to getting back in front of the French fans and hopefully making it another week to remember,” as reported by Golf Monthly.
Looking Ahead for the English Star
Despite this disappointing end to his week in France, Fleetwood has enjoyed a successful period, including winning the Tour Championship last August, which secured him the FedEx Cup title, and his third Ryder Cup success. He also finished in a tie for fourth at this year’s Open Championship.
Fleetwood, an eight-time DP World Tour winner, is currently scheduled to compete in next week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews.
