Tommy Fleetwood’s very good, very successful, golf-too-easy fall season doesn’t seem to be slowing down.
The world’s biggest figure in golf is coming off a dominant Ryder Cup performance and a Tour Championship victory – his first on the PGA Tour – and is now leading the way at the DP World India Championship, the first-year DP World Tour event that has several big-name pros taking part (thanks to a little help from appearance fees).
Fleetwood shot an 8-under 64 on Friday at Delhi Golf Club in New Delhi, India, a round highlighted by five birdies in his last eight starts. After shooting a 68 in the first round, he now leads the weekend by one shot over Brian Harman and Shane Lowry. Rory McIlroy, 6 under, is six shots behind.
Fleetwood said he wasn’t happy with the way Thursday’s round ended, but then hit the ball and felt in a better position with Friday’s swing.
“I hit the fairway a lot today and gave myself some opportunities with my irons,” he said. “When you’re eight under, it’s easy to talk about what you did well, but it was a really good round of golf.”
Derry Golf Club presents a unique test for the professionals this week. It is shorter, more compact, and does not require a driver as often as it is weaponized in the United States. McIlroy completely ditched his trusted driver. Fleetwood said he didn’t hit more than a 5-wood.
“It’s a very unique challenge, the greens get a little firm and the pins are tricky,” he said. “It’s very, very enjoyable. It’s a test of patience when you’re not completely settled in because like one of those courses where you feel like if you hit a good shot off the tee, you’re going to have some short irons and some wedges, it feels like there’s always a chance that you can make something wrong. It’s a waiting game. You have to be very patient. It’s a good test.”
To his credit, Fleetwood has passed most of the tests over the past few months. The fan-favorite golfer has long been considered one of the best in the world but has never won on a major tour (despite his success on the DP World Tour) and has more opportunities this summer. But in August, he shed that label by winning the Tour Championship and the $10 million FedEx Cup.
A month later, he was Europe’s best player at Bethpage Black, scoring four points and leading Europe to an away Ryder Cup victory.
That familiarity with the Ryder Cup continues into this week. Fleetwood was drawn into a group with Ryder Cup player Shane Lowry and European captain Luke Donald through the first two rounds.
“An unbelievable three goals,” Fleetwood said. “I think because you’re so comfortable with each other, you can do your own thing. Yeah, I mean, links-style golf is always a bonus when you’re with two people who are really close. So yeah, I saw the draw, or Sean actually told me about the draw, and I was really happy. It was a great two days.
