Will the real Tommy Fleetwood please stand up? Open prize money of $150,000 mistakenly sent to Florida namesake

The money, earned after finished 12th at The Open, was sent to a 58-year-old man by the same name who caddies at the Streamsong Resort in Bowling Green, Florida

Tommy Fleetwood got paid more than $150,000 in prize money from last month’s Open. It was not paid, however, to the Tommy Fleetwood who played in the championship and finished equal 12th at Carnoustie.

Instead, it was sent to a 58-year-old man by the same name who caddies at the Streamsong Resort in Bowling Green, Florida.

Tommy Fleetwood during The Open at Carnoustie (PA)

Caddie Fleetwood said he was trying to get in touch with English world No 11 to put the player’s mind at ease that the money would be refunded.

“It was an honest mistake,” Fleetwood said, sounding dumbfounded that he had suddenly become a focus of media attention. “My mother called me to say she’s been getting lots of calls from the media.”

The European Tour confirmed the error. “This was a clerical error which we are resolving and we apologise for the inconvenience caused to both parties,” it said in a statement.

Caddie Fleetwood received a direct deposit of $154,480 (£120.000). “I tried to get on their senior tour, so they have my (bank) information,” he said.

Reuters