Tommy Fleetwood’s very good, very successful, golf-is-too-easy fall season doesn’t seem to be slowing down.
The toast of the golf world, fresh off a dominating Ryder Cup performance and Tour Championship victory — his first on the PGA Tour — is now leading the DP World India Championship, a first-year DP World Tour event several big-name pros are competing in (thanks to a little help from appearance fees).
Fleetwood shot an eight-under 64 on Friday at Delhi Golf Club in New Delhi, India, a round highlighted by birdies in five of his last eight. That followed his opening-round 68, and he now heads into the weekend leading Brian Harman and Shane Lowry by one. Rory McIlroy, at six under, is six back.
Fleetwood said he wasn’t happy with how he ended his round Thursday but hit balls afterward and felt like his Friday swing was in a better place.
“I hit it in the fairway a lot today and gave myself some chances with irons,” he said. “It’s easy talking about how many things you did well when you shot eight under, but a really good round of golf.”
Delhi Golf Club is a unique test for professionals this week. It’s shorter and tight and driver isn’t needed as often as it’s weaponized in the States. McIlroy’s put away his trusty driver altogether. Fleetwood said he hasn’t hit more than a 5-wood.
“It’s such a unique challenge, and the greens are firming out a little bit and the pins have been tricky,” he said. “It’s been very, very enjoyable. It’s a test of patience when you’re not quite on it because like it’s one of those courses, you get a few of them where you feel if you hit it good off the tee you’re going to have some short irons and wedges and feel like you’ve always got a chance to get it wrong. It’s such a waiting game. You’ve got to be very patient. It’s been a great test.”
Fleetwood, to his credit, has passed the majority of his tests the last couple of months. The fan favorite was long known as one of the best golfers in the world to never have won on the big tour (despite his DP World Tour success) and had even more close calls this summer. But in August he won the Tour Championship and the $10 million FedEx Cup title to shed that label.
A month later he was the Europeans’ best player at Bethpage Black, securing four points and leading Europe to an away Ryder Cup victory.
That Ryder Cup familiarity has carried over to this week. Fleetwood’s been grouped with fellow Ryder Cupper Shane Lowry and European captain Luke Donald for the first two rounds.
“Unbelievable three-ball,” Fleetwood said. “I think because you’re so comfortable with each other, you do your own thing. Yeah, I mean, like just it’s always links-style golf course a bonus when you’re with two guys that you’re really close with. So yeah, I saw the draw, or Shane actually told me about the draw, and I was really pleased. It has been a great two days.
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