LeBron, Tiger, Caitlin Clark praise Tommy Fleetwood's FedEx Cup win - ESPN

ATLANTA — Everybody loves a first-time winner, especially one who had been hit across the head by a two-by-four in so many near-misses.

England's Tommy Fleetwood captured his first PGA Tour victory — in his 164th career start — in the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club on Sunday.

Fleetwood posted a 2-under 68 in the final round and finished at 18 under, three strokes better than Russell Henley and Patrick Cantlay.

Before Sunday, Fleetwood had played the role of bride's maid, at least on American soil. He was a runner-up on the PGA Tour six times and finished in the top three in a dozen tournaments.

According to ESPN Research, Fleetwood's 30 top-five finishes were the most by a golfer without a victory on the PGA Tour in the past 100 years and his 44 top 10s were second most in the past century.

«I think I'm proud of what I've done before,» Fleetwood said Sunday, before lifting the FedEx Cup and collecting a $10 million winner's check. «Whether I've won or not, I've still been proud of my career so far, knowing that I still have a long way to go and lots of learning.

»This doesn't change that really. This is hopefully just one win, the first of many to come. You cannot win plenty if you don't win the first one."

Fleetwood's long-awaited maiden victory garnered him congratulatory messages from throughout the golf world — and beyond — on Sunday. Here are some of the best reactions on social media from Fleetwood's win.

Fifteen-time major champion Tiger Woods, an 82-time winner on the PGA Tour, appreciated Fleetwood's long road to winning. Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, who recently picked up golf, also was watching with interest. WNBA star Caitlin Clark, an avid golfer, called her shot, even before Fleetwood