DP World India Championship winner Tommy Fleetwood of England on the 18th green at Delhi Golf Club with his son Frankie on Sunday. Image courtesy DPWIC.
By Rahul Banerji
FedEx Cup champion and Ryder Cup winner Tommy Fleetwood carved his name on the magnificent crystal trophy of the inaugural DP World India Championship with a comprehensive win at the Delhi Golf Club on Sunday.
Fleetwood set out two shots adrift of Japan’s Keita Nakajima and was ahead by the same margin and the end in front of his son Frankie and an adoring crowd that had followed his fortunes from the tee-off.
The 34-year-old Englishman’s 7 under par 65 gave him a tournament total of 22 under 266 against a 20 under 268 from Nakajima, who returned a bogey-free 69 on the day.
Delhi marked Fleetwood’s eighth DP World Tour title and came in a year he scored a breakthrough PGA Tour win at the Tour Championship at East Lake in August and the away Ryder Cup victory at Bethpage Black in New York last month.
The Englishman had to see off the hard-charging Daniel Hillier till the Kiwi’s run of eight birdies over the first 10 holes ended with a double bogey-bogey sequence on holes 14 and 15.
Taking off
Fleetwood’s round took off on hole seven, from where he reeled off four straight birdies to take the lead and was never challenged thereafter though he needed a good up-and-down on 11 to keep his round on track.
Ireland’s Shane Lowry, Alex Fitzpatrick of England and South African Thriston Lawrence were tied for third on 18 under 270.
Without actually saying as much, Fleetwood dedicated the win to his son Frank post the victory.
“So we were at home last week, I think playing golf together, and he just said randomly, ‘do you know what you’ve never done?’
“‘You’ve never won a tournament and I’ve been able to run on to the 18th green’.
“I had that written down all week. There’s going to be many more times where I hopefully get the chance to do that. But that was like all day today, had in my mind could I put myself in a position where I can actually make that moment happen.
“It’s just one of those little things it means a lot to me. It means so much to me. That was really cool. That’s what I wanted to do all day.”
DGC’s star
The DGC’s very own Shiv Kapur (68) tied for 32nd at 9 under as the best-placed Indian.
Dhruv Sheoran (72) at 8 under shared 36th place, while Anirban Lahiri (71) and Shubhankar Sharma (74) were tied for 56th and Abhinav Lohan (72) was T63 on 1-under 287.
Hero Indian Open winner in 2024 and runner-up this year Nakajima was a brave second on a day his unerring iron play went off the boil as did his touch on the greens.
He still preferred to look at the positives.
“It was a great week. I had ac bogey-free weekend, and played with Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood. That’s a special moment for me, and I’m so honoured to play with top-ranking field.
“This year was so many tough challenges, but we pushed with the team, and good comeback in India. India is definitely my one favourite country. Maybe win next year.”
Also read: India-happy Keita Nakajima lines up title tilt at the Delhi Golf Club
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