Was there any player better than Tommy Fleetwood at the Ryder Cup? That is a debatable topic, but there is no doubt that he was among the most crucial names that led the team to victory. However, the English pro doesn’t think that was the case, as he gives credit to his fellow pro despite becoming the fourth player to receive the great honor of the tournament.

Two days after the historic Ryder Cup win, Fleetwood shared images of the European team and wrote about the event from the heart. The caption read, “Dreams are made of occasions like this. Times when you stand shoulder to shoulder like a true team and win together. @lukedonald led like he did in Rome, but with more armour, power, knowledge, and experience. He deserves all the credit; we were just the pieces on a chessboard.”

After a 4-1-0 record at the 2025 Ryder Cup, the golfer, instead of taking the credit, gave it to the captain, who was the mastermind behind the glorious victory at the tournament. Luke Donald played a crucial role, from selection to pairing, and even in motivating players on the course.

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For that, he deserves the credit; even Jon Rahm has also voiced the same for him, saying “absolutely astonishing” for the efforts, and added that he “set the bar for captaincy so extremely high.”

Rory McIlroy said, “We got so lucky in getting an incredible leader in Luke Donald.” Adding to the list, Shane Lowry continued the praise, saying, “He’s the greatest captain I think that’s ever lived.” After Tony Jacklin’s two consecutive wins as a captain in 1985 and 1987, Luke Donald joined him with back-to-back victories for the team.

For his exceptional leadership, before Tommy Fleetwood, Keegan Bradley, a fellow Ryder Cup player and American side captain, has also praised him. He said, “I think he turned this European Team into a really unstoppable force, especially the first two days, and you know, in my eyes, I think he’s the best European Ryder Cup captain ever. I was really excited to go up against him, but I knew it was going to be tough to beat him.”

But even so, Fleetwood’s contribution is hardly something to understate.

In foursomes, the duo of Fleetwood and Rory McIlroy went undefeated and also set the record for the largest margin of victory in foursomes for an away pairing since 2004. They won 5&4 against the duo of Harris English and Collin Morikawa.

Moreover, Fleetwood also improved his career Ryder Cup record to 7–3–2, currently the highest winning percentage among European players with at least 10 matches played.

But apart from his performance, his character is what really shone through. The Instagram carousel that he has uploaded has one thing in common: Fleetwood being an absolute rock-solid support for his team. Given that Team Europe had to face quite an intimidating crowd this year, Fleetwood held his ground and supported his team like he was the captain himself.

Moreover, after his Sunday Singles match with Justin Thomas, which was tied, Fleetwood extended his hand, gave a charming smile and nod to Thomas, acknowledging his opponent even with such a tense atmosphere. Classic move by the Englishman.

So, his winning the Nicklaus/Jacklin award was hardly a surprise, but instead what many would say, well deserved.

Tommy Fleetwood achieves a rare reward

As he continued in the caption, “It’s an honour to receive the Nicklaus/Jacklin award and bring 4 points home to the team, but to be honest, I’d do anything for this group of incredibly special human beings!! Love this Team, and always will!!! My heart is 💙💙💙💙 @rydercupeurope.”

Fleetwood, paired with Rory McIlroy for foursomes and Justin Rose for four-ball, came out undefeated. However, while playing the singles against Justin Thomas, he lost on the dramatic final putt with one down. However, beyond the performance, there were additional factors that contributed to his selection for the award.

The Nicklaus-Jacklin award honors fair play, teamwork, and many other factors that resemble those of 1969 Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin. Notably, unlike the other European players, Tommy Fleetwood kept his calm despite the heat of the competition and the intensity of the New York fans. He discussed how he stayed in his bubble to remain focused and not react to anything. Even during the feud between McIlroy and his fans, he kept his calm and did not react. The calmness and performance were the result, and he was awarded the prestigious honor. Speaking for the award during the presentation, he shared his feelings.

He said, “To be acknowledged like this, winning an award that is named after such legends as Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin and in some way follow in their footsteps, is very cool. Sportsmanship is important to our game, and the Ryder Cup is the most intense environment we experience.” The award was first introduced in 2021, and now with the third season, Tommy Fleetwood became the fourth recipient of the prestigious award.

So, Fleetwood’s recognition is more than just another accolade — it reflects the qualities that make him one of Europe’s most respected figures. In a competition often defined by pressure, passion, and rivalry, his composure and sportsmanship stood out as much as his points on the board. The Nicklaus/Jacklin Award underlines that the Ryder Cup is not only about winning matches, but also about honoring the spirit of the game — something Tommy Fleetwood continues to embody with distinction.