England’s Tommy Fleetwood has surged to the top of the leaderboard at the DP World India Championship, following an exceptional, bogey-free round of 64 on Friday. This stellar performance at the Delhi Golf Club brought his two-day total to an impressive 12-under par, firmly placing him in sole possession of the lead.
Fleetwood, playing alongside Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald and Ireland’s Shane Lowry, showcased remarkable consistency and precision throughout his round. While Lowry, the first-round leader, had a steady day, he opted for a more cautious approach, finishing at 11-under and now tied for second. Brian Harman from the USA also had an improved second round, scoring a 65, but a single dropped shot on the 13th meant he couldn’t quite match Fleetwood’s perfection, also settling for a share of second place.
Reflecting on his dominant display, Fleetwood acknowledged the unique challenges of the course. “It’s such a unique challenge for all of us,” he commented. “The greens are firming out a little bit and the pins have been tricky. It’s been very enjoyable. It’s a test of patience when you’re not quite on it because it’s one of those courses where you feel if you hit it good off the tee, you’ve always got a chance of going on a run. It’s such a waiting game. You’ve got to be very patient. It’s been a great test.”
Elsewhere in the field, World No. 2 Rory McIlroy continued to grapple with the course, posting an identical Day Two score of 69 for a two-day total of 138, leaving him in an eight-way tie for 17th. For the home crowd, Shubhankar Sharma emerged as the best Indian golfer. After a challenging opening round of 74, Sharma rallied with a superb six-under 66 on Day Two, bringing his midway total to four-under 140. In total, five Indian players successfully navigated the cut, which was set at two-under and ties, ensuring local representation in the weekend rounds.
Top Results After Halfway Stage:
- 132: Tommy Fleetwood (England, 68-64)
- 133: Shane Lowry (Ireland, 64-69), Brian Harman (USA, 68-65)
- 134: Keita Nakajima (Japan, 65-69)