Clare Fleetwood was targeted by hecklers ahead of her husband Tommy Fleetwood’s dramatic Ryder Cup victory over Bryson DeChambeau and Ben Griffin at Bethpage Black.
Fleetwood, paired with Justin Rose, delivered one of the standout performances of the opening day as the European duo came from behind to snatch a narrow 1UP win over the Americans in a tense foursomes encounter.
But before the drama unfolded on the course, Clare found herself targeted by a crude shout from the crowd.
As Fleetwood stepped up to the first tee, one spectator could be heard calling out: “Your wife looks like my grandmother,” a clear reference to the 23-year age gap between Tommy, 34, and Clare, 57.
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The couple, who married in 2017, have spoken in the past about public scrutiny of their relationship, but on this occasion Clare did not respond, instead focusing on supporting her husband as he teed off.
The match itself provided the perfect answer to the taunt.
Despite trailing for much of the front nine, Fleetwood and Rose dug in and found their rhythm on the back nine.
Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Rose impressed at the Ryder Cup on Friday
|GETTY
Fleetwood holed a superb 13-foot birdie putt on the 11th to level the contest before edging Europe into the lead three holes later with another moment of brilliance.
The tension ratcheted up on the 17th when DeChambeau produced a brilliant tee shot to keep American hopes alive, prompting a huge roar from the New York crowd.
That left the match finely poised heading to the final hole, with Clare walking the fairway alongside her stepsons and Kate Rose, soaking in the drama.
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Tommy Fleetwood pictured with wife Clare Fleetwood at Wimbledon back in July | GETTYOn the 18th, Fleetwood and Rose struck two excellent approach shots to set up a birdie chance, and Rose duly converted, sealing a vital point for Team Europe.
The win sparked jubilant celebrations, with Clare seen embracing Kate Rose and later sharing a kiss with Tommy as European players and families joined in the celebrations behind the green.
For Clare, the victory carried extra sweetness given the hostile reception on the first tee.
While she has admitted in interviews that she was once “paranoid” about public comments on her marriage, she has also said she and Tommy have grown used to the scrutiny.
Fleetwood has often spoken warmly about their relationship and the bond they share as a family, including Clare’s two older children from her previous marriage.
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Tommy Fleetwood married wife Clare back in 2017 | GETTYSpeaking on the Fore Play podcast earlier this year, Fleetwood said: “I never really think of them as step-kids.
“I've been around them a long time now. We’re unbelievably close.”
If Friday was any indication, that tight-knit support network may yet prove to be one of Europe’s secret weapons this week.
How the golf plays out is something only time will tell.