Day two DP World India Championship leader Tommy Fleetwood of England in action at the Delhi Golf Club on Friday. Image courtesy DPWIC.
By Rahul Banerji
Tommy Fleetwood took over from Ryder Cup team-mate Shane Lowry atop the DP World India Championship leaderboard with a flawless round of his own at the Delhi Golf Club on Friday.
The 34-year-old Englishman fired a bogey-free 8 under par 64 to total 12 under 132, one shot up the road from overnight leader Lowry (69) and Brian Harman (65) of the US.
In doing so, Fleetwood overturned a four-shot deficit to Lowry and at the halfway point of this $4 million event, is showing the growing crowds just why his game is so highly rated around the world.
Shubhankar Sharma returned a clean 6 under 66 to be the best-placed Indian in the surviving field of 66 as the cut was declared at 2 under 142.
Anirban Lahiri (70-71) made it to the weekend on 3 under 141 along with Shiv Kapur (72-69) and Dhruv Sheoran (68-73) while Abhinav Lohan (70-72) was right on the bubble at 142.
None of the 26 other Indians in the field qualified for the lucrative weekend rounds with DP World Tour card-holder Veer Ahlawat falling short by a stroke on 143 along with the rest of his counterparts.
Early gains
Fleetwood, who earned a breakthrough win on the PGA Tour at the Tour Championship in August along with the FedEx Cup, started on the back nine on Friday alongside Lowry and Luke Donald and had picked up five shots by the turn.
A further three birdies on the second nine, including a closing gain on hole 9 gave him the clubhouse lead at 12 under which was never challenged.
Indian Open 2024 winner Keita Nakajima (69) of Japan came closest before finishing in sole fourth place on 10 under 134 with England’s Brandon Robinson Thompson and Dutchman Joost Luiten sharing fifth place on 9 under 135.
“I played better yesterday, I think. Definitely towards the end of the round yesterday,” Fleetwood said later. “This course make you a bit guidey.
“It’s easy talking about how many things you did well when you’ve shot 8 under, but a really good round of golf. This course is just such a unique challenge for all of us. I haven’t hit more than a 5-wood.
Test of patience
“It’s been very, very enjoyable. It’s a test of patience when you’re not quite on it… It’s such a waiting game. You’ve got to be very patient. It’s been a great test.”
For 2023 Open winner Harman, who had just one dropped shot against seven birdies, it was mostly about managing the ball off the tee.
Brian Harman of the US sits in shared second place at the Delhi Golf Club one shot behind the leader. Image courtesy DPWIC.
“It’s a pretty tough course to learn, really. I mean, there’s some really awkward tee shots. It’s a little different than what we’re used to but I enjoyed the course.
“I’m striking it pretty well. Hit some irons in there pretty close. Saved par when I had to. When I hit it in the trees, I didn’t make any big scores.”
Lowry followed his opening 64 with a battling 69 on Friday, balancing four birdies with one bogey. Also an Open champion, the burly Irishman picked up pace late in the round to stay on Fleetwood’s heels with three birdies on his second nine.
“Not much happened on the front nine, and then I made a stupid bogey on the par 5 from the middle of the fairway. Quite frustrated around the turn.
“But I felt like I finished well, and I played some nice golf on the way in. The course is there for the taking if you hit good shots, but if you hit it offline it’s very, very tricky.
“I’m happy with my two days’ work. I think you need to play this golf course the way you see it. There’s a lot of mid-irons out there which a strength of my game.”
Recovery drive
For Shubhankar Sharma, it was about recovering from an indifferent opening round of 2 over 74 with a bogey-free 66 on Friday. “Really happy today,” he said.
“Yesterday I got off to a good start but made some bad mistakes coming in, but feeling a lot more fresh. Hit it well, putting was good, mind was clear, and in the end, I’m really happy.
“The course is holding up nicely. Obviously the scores have been good. In the morning, maybe slightly easier than the afternoon. But if anything, it will only get tougher.
“Golf is all in the mind at the end of the day. That’s why it’s one of the hardest sports in the world.
“Doesn’t really matter if it is your home track or not, especially at Delhi Golf Club, it’s really tough. You hit one bad shot, and suddenly it’s a downward spiral from there.”
Also read: Birdie run gives Lowry day one lead at DP World India C’ship
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