The Englishman, already a seven-time winner on the DP World Tour, had piled up 30 top-five finishes in the United States without a win – including six runner-up showings.
At East Lake in Atlanta, he ended that frustration with a closing two-under-par 68, finishing at 18-under 262 and three shots clear.
Just two weeks ago, Fleetwood had squandered a late lead at the St. Jude Championship. This time he stayed composed, pulling away from Cantlay and world No. 5 Russell Henley, who shared second place three strokes back.
“I’m just so happy that I got it done and happy with my work ethic,” Fleetwood said. “And I’ll continue to try and get better and try and be the best that I can be.”
Starting the day tied with Cantlay, Fleetwood made an early move with a 19-foot birdie putt at the par-three second. He dropped a shot at the fifth after driving into the rough but bounced back quickly, reeling off birdies at the sixth and seventh — the latter set up by a crisp bunker shot to 12 feet.
A clutch par save at the eighth kept momentum on his side, though another wayward tee shot at the 10th led to bogey. Cantlay, who had clawed back from an opening bogey and double-bogey with birdies at the third and sixth, cut the deficit to a single stroke after holing a five-footer at the 10th.
But Fleetwood refused to falter. Both players birdied the 12th, and when Cantlay’s putt lipped out at the 13th, Fleetwood converted from six feet to rebuild a three-shot cushion. Although he stumbled with a bogey at the par-three 15th, Cantlay immediately gave a shot back at the 16th, allowing Fleetwood to walk up 17 with room to breathe. He duly closed it out to the roars of a supportive crowd.
“I don’t know, when you’ve lost it so many times, a three-shot lead coming down the last doesn’t feel like that many,” admitted Fleetwood.
“You just keep learning, don’t you. This is just hopefully one win, the first of many to come. You can’t win plenty if you don’t win the first one.”
Cantlay, the 2021 FedEx Cup champion, signed for a one-over 71 to join Henley, who carded a steady 69, at 15-under 265.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler couldn’t find his best rhythm. He still managed a two-under 68 after bouncing back from a late double-bogey with birdie at the 16th, sharing fourth on 266 with Canada’s Corey Conners – who stormed home with a superb 62 – and American Cameron Young, who closed with 66.
