Tommy Fleetwood Leads in India, Rory McIlroy Fights: DP World Tour Championship Thrills with Tight Competition.

Tommy Fleetwood surged to the top of the leaderboard at the DP World India Championship on Friday, carding an impressive 8-under 64 at the Delhi Golf Club. The Englishman's flawless, bogey-free round propelled him to 12-under par for the tournament, giving him a one-stroke lead over former Open champions Shane Lowry and Brian Harman.

Fleetwood, fresh off his FedEx Cup victory and a strong showing at the Ryder Cup, continued his excellent form with eight birdies. A crucial 8-foot birdie putt on his final hole, the 9th, solidified his lead. Ranked No. 5 in the world, Fleetwood credited a post-round range session after his initial round of 68 for improving his swing. He emphasized the importance of accuracy on the course, noting that he hadn't used anything longer than a 5-wood during his round. "I played better than yesterday. I wasn't happy with how I hit it towards the end yesterday, so I hit some balls afterwards, and I felt like today the swing was in a better place,” Fleetwood said. "I hit it in the fairway a lot and gave myself some chances with irons". He also described the Delhi Golf Club as a "unique challenge" requiring patience.

Rory McIlroy, making his debut in India, battled to stay in contention after a somewhat turbulent round. The world No. 2 finished with a second consecutive 69 to end the day at 6-under. McIlroy faced early setbacks with back-to-back bogeys on his back nine, leaving him ten shots behind the leader. However, the Northern Irishman demonstrated resilience by birdieing four of his final six holes.

McIlroy notably opted to keep his driver out of the bag for the second day in a row, a strategy he plans to maintain. "Dog was out of the bag, probably asleep in the locker,” he joked, referring to his driver headcover. He explained that the course's tight fairways and the need for precision made longer irons a more strategic choice. "I don't think so. I think if I'm struggling to hit fairways with my 2-iron, I'm not going to hit it with my driver," McIlroy stated.

McIlroy acknowledged the course's difficulty, stating it was "tougher than I expected". He emphasized the importance of conservative play off the tee and capitalizing on birdie opportunities on par fives.

Adding to the event's prestige, Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar was a special guest and met with McIlroy after his round. "It was a strong finish, got myself sort of back in the tournament. I need a strong start tomorrow,” McIlroy said.

Shane Lowry, who led after the first round with an 8-under 64, slipped to a tie for second after a 69 on Friday. Brian Harman also sits at 11-under after posting a 65.

Other notable players include Ben Griffin, who is tied for seventh place at 8-under. Viktor Hovland is also at 6-under alongside McIlroy.

Five Indian players, Shubhankar Sharma, Dhruv Sheoran, Shiv Kapur, Anirban Lahiri and Abhinav Lohan, made the cut for the final two rounds.


Written By
Kavya Reddy is a dynamic journalist with a passion for uncovering compelling stories and a keen interest in sports. She brings a fresh perspective and a commitment to accurate, impactful reporting. Kavya is particularly interested in socio-economic issues and local community narratives, eager to use her skills to shed light on underreported topics and give a voice to diverse perspectives, all while staying connected to her love for sports.
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