Ryder Cup star Tommy Fleetwood forces BBC to apologise after Luke Donald joke

Ryder Cup star Tommy Fleetwood was pressured right into a hasty apology after letting an expletive slip while making a joke about staff captain Luke Donald. World No. 14 Fleetwood slipped out of Team Europe’s computerized qualification locations for the biannual occasion when Matt Fitzpatrick completed third finally weekend’s European Masters.

But the Southport-born star was a shoo-in for Donald’s staff regardless and acquired the primary of the six captain’s picks once they had been introduced on Monday.

Fleetwood was chosen by Donald, alongside former Open winner Shane Lowry, Justin Rose and rookies Sepp Straka, Nicolai Hojgaard and Ludvig Aberg.

Having completed tied for sixth within the FedEX Cup standings, Fleetwood has loved one among his finest seasons on the PGA Tour and was a simple alternative for Donald. The Merseysider might be making his third consecutive Ryder Cup look following his beautiful debut in 2018 when he gained 4 factors out of 5.

After his choice was confirmed, the 32-year-old gave an interview to BBC Radio Five Live to debate the forthcoming Ryder Cup, however it wasn’t too lengthy earlier than the published changed into one thing of a automobile crash.

Fleetwood was requested what sort of captain shut pal Donald could be in Rome, to which he spontaneously replied: “S***.”

Rattled presenter Rick Edwards shortly composed himself earlier than issuing an apology to listeners for the dangerous language. Fleetwood himself quickly realised his mistake dwell on air and made his personal apology. “Sorry, sorry, I lost track of where I am. I take that back,” he mentioned.

After drawing a line underneath his ill-judged joke, Fleetwood gave a glowing account of Donald’s credentials as a captain for one of many greatest occasions in world golf that captures the creativeness of a wider viewers.

Fleetwood mentioned: “Luke will be amazing. He’s somebody I am very close to. He’s a calm figure, a confident figure, he’s handled the biggest moment in the sport unbelievably well.

“To have someone leading from the front like that has been great. He’s definitely brought his personality to the captaincy. I do feel very honoured, as a friend as well but to play under a European legend, I am looking forward to experiencing his captaincy.”

The feeling appears to be mutual between Donald and Fleetwood, with the former praising the attributes of his first Ryder Cup pick during an announcement broadcast live on Sky Sports.

Donald said: “He has expertise, which is essential however my nickname for Tommy is the ‘Flusher’. He is a ball-striking machine. We have simply seen that in a few of his outcomes, fifth on the US Open, tenth at The Open Championship.

“I think he’s the only man in the history of golf to have more than two 63s in the final round of a US Open. We know his pedigree of golf, and obviously he’s a very versatile player. He can play with anyone. He gets along with anyone and he’s great in the team room.”