Tommy Fleetwood’s very good, very successful, golf is very easy fall season doesn’t seem to be slowing down.
The toast of the golf world, fresh off a dominant Ryder Cup performance and Winning the tournament championship — his first on the PGA Tour — is now leading the DP India World Championship, a first-year DP World Tour event in which some big-name pros are competing (thanks to a little help from entry 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 years old, is six years old again.
Fleetwood said he wasn’t happy with how he finished his round Thursday, but he hit the balls afterward and felt like his Friday swing was in a better place.
“I hit it hard today in the fairway and gave myself a few chances with the irons,” he said. “It’s easy to talk about how many things you’ve done well when you shot eight under, but a really good round of golf.”
Delhi Golf Club is a unique test for the pros this week. It is shorter and narrower and the driver is not needed as often as it is used with guns in the United States. McIlroy dropped 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 getting a little firmer and the pins have been tricky,” he said. “It’s been very, very nice. It’s a test of patience when you’re not quite on it, because if it’s one of those courses, you get some of them where you feel if you hit it well from the top, you’re going to have some irons and short wedges and you feel like you always have a chance to get it wrong. It’s a great test of being very patient.”
Fleetwood, to his credit, has passed most of his tests in the last two months. The fan favorite was long recognized as one of the best players in the world to never win a major (despite his success on the DP World Tour) and had more hang up calls this summer. But in August he won the tour championship and the $10 million FedEx Cup title to shake off that tag.
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 recognition of the Ryder Cup has carried over into this week. Fleetwood has been paired with Ryder Cupper Shane Lowry and European captain Luke Donald for the first two rounds.
“Unbelievable three balls,” said Fleetwood. “I think because you’re so comfortable with each other, you do your own thing. Yeah, I mean, like always a links-style golf course is a bonus when you’re with two guys 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’s been a fantastic two days.
