Indian Open winner in 2024, Keita Nakajima of Japan on his way into the penultimate day’s lead of the DP World Championship at Delhi Golf Club on Saturday. Image courtesy DPWIC.
By Rahul Banerji
Keita Nakajima knows what it takes to win in India. He did it at the 2024 Indian Open and almost repeated on the DLF course this year before finishing second to Eugenio Chacarra.
On Moving Day in the $4 million DP World India Championship, the Japanese star was two shots clear of the field with a flawless 7 under par 65 at the Delhi Golf Club.
Nakajima’s seven birdies on Saturday could well set him on course for an Indian win number two on 17 under 199.
His playing partner on the day, Shane Lowry, said afterwards, “He (Nakajima) is going to be hard to beat tomorrow.
“But there will be a few of us not far behind him hopefully giving him a run.”
On the heels of the 25-year-old from Saitama is a classy field led by overnight topper Tommy Fleetwood (69) of England on 15 under 201, and Irishman Lowry (69) at 14 under 202.
US golfer Brian Harman (70) shares fourth place on 13 under 205 with Jens Dantorp (65) of Denmark, England’s Alex Fitzpatrick (67) and Daniel Hillier of New Zealand (67).
Top Indian
Dhruv Sheoran (68-73-67) was the best-placed Indian in tied 25th place on 8 under 208 in a round that had five birdies and a bogey and lifted him 16 spots up the leaderboard.
Shiv Kapur (70) and Shubhankar Sharma (71) were the next best in shared 42nd place on 5 under 211.
Anirban Lahiri and Abhinav Lohan shot 1 over 73s to end the day in tied 58th and tied 63rd place.
Nakajima set out on Saturday two shots behind Fleetwood but immediately ate into the lead with a 10-foot birdie at the first.
He then holed from 13 feet for birdie on five before picking up further shots on holes six and eight and caught the leader with a 40-foot birdie putt on 12.
Another long birdie putt on 13 gave Nakajima the sole lead, and he made it three in a row on 14 from nearly 20 feet to move two shots clear.
Nakajima said later, “It was a great day. I played with Shane Lowry and I love his swing tempo and his golf style. So I learned from Shane a lot.
Swing tempo
“I copied his swing tempo on every shot, that’s why I did great.
“I had two good tournaments in India already so I had confidence playing here. One more day, just keep going.”
Fleetwood led for much of the day with three front nine birdies but lost momentum on the back nine with seven pars, a bogey and a closing birdie that had him sole second.
“Final group is always great. You’ve got to enjoy those moments. You don’t know when they’re going to come again. Looking forward to that.
“It’s been a great tournament. Just hopefully go out and enjoy it and play well.”
Big guns
Viktor Hovland of Norway was tied eighth on 12 under 204 while world number two and reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland was T15 on 10 under.
Sheoran had a 40-feet birdie conversion on the second hole and made gradual progress thereafter including birdies from a terrific up and down from the rough on eight and an outstanding approach on 11.
His only bogey of the day came on 12 but a further three birdies left him feeling better.
“I was pretty calm today from the range itself,” Sheoran said later.
“On the practice green the putts rolled pure and my coach Rahul Bajaj gave me a big thumbs up. I carried that confidence to the course and things worked out well for me.
“I was looking for a six-under at the start today and got very close to my target. I’ve done really well with my 2-iron and 4-iron this week.”
Also read: Ryder Cup form continues to dazzle on Delhi Golf Club’s fairways
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