NEW DELHI — Tommy Fleetwood continued his strong season with an 8-under halftime 64 to take a one-shot lead at the DP World India Championship, while Ryder Cup teammate Rory McIlroy fought to stay in contention on Friday.
Over the past two months, Fleetwood has won his first PGA Tour Champions Tour title – earning a $10 million bonus as FedEx Cup champion in the process – and became the highest-scoring Ryder Cup player retained by Team Europe.
Now the Briton, who has risen to fifth in the world rankings, made eight birdies in a bogey-free second round to jump to 12 under for the week and into the lead in what is perhaps the most prestigious golf tournament ever hosted in India.
Fleetwood’s final birdie – 8 feet from the 9th hole where he last birdied – moved him ahead of former Open champion Shane Lowry (69) and Brian Harman (65), who were tied for second.
Fleetwood described the course at Derry Golf Club as “a unique challenge for all of us”.
“I didn’t hit any more than a 5-wood,” he said. “It’s a test of patience… If you hit the ball well off the tee, you’re going to have some short irons and some wedges, and [you] It feels like I always have a chance to make a mistake. It’s a waiting game. “
U.S. Ryder Cup rookie Ben Griffin is three shots back, tied for seventh at 8 under.
McIlroy again didn’t have his driver in the bag and had back-to-back bogeys early on the back nine, but he birdied four of the final six holes for his second straight 69. He was joined by Team Europe teammate Viktor Hovland (67) at 6 under.
As world number two Rory McIlroy walked down the 18th hole at the leafy Delhi Golf Club, he took off his hat and shook hands behind the green with Indian cricket great Sachin Tendulkar, who was the tournament’s special guest.
“It was a strong finish and put myself back in the tournament. I need a strong start tomorrow,” McIlroy said.
Asked if he would change his tee shot strategy over the weekend and become more aggressive to catch Fleetwood, McIlroy said: “I don’t think so. I think if I’m having a hard time hitting the fairway with my 2-iron, I’m not going to hit it with my driver.
“Same strategy. Just hit the ball closer on your second shot and don’t miss as many putts.”
