NEW DELHI – Tommy Fleetwood continues his excellent season finish, achieving an impressive round of 64 strokes, eight under par, to lead by one stroke the Indian DP World Championship at the halfway point of the tournament. His Ryder Cup teammate, Rory McIlroy, struggled to stay in contention on Friday. In the last two months, Fleetwood has secured his first PGA Tour title, winning the Tour Championship and taking home 10 million dollars as the FedEx Cup champion. In addition, he was the top point scorer at the Ryder Cup, where the European team retained the title. Currently ranked number 5 in the world, the English golfer leads perhaps the most prestigious golf tournament ever held in India, thanks to eight birdies in a bogey-free second round, accumulating a total of 12 under par for the week. Fleetwood’s final birdie, from 8 feet on the 9th hole, gave him a clear lead over former Open champions Shane Lowry (69) and Brian Harman (65), who shared second place.
Fleetwood described the course as a “unique challenge.”The course at the Delhi Golf Club, with its narrow, tree-lined fairways, is a unique challenge for all of us.
Tommy Fleetwood
I haven’t used anything more than a 5-wood. It’s a test of patience… If you hit well off the tee, you’ll have short irons and wedges, and you feel like you can always make a mistake. It’s a waiting game.
Tommy Fleetwood
Ben Griffin, a three-stroke distance, is a rookie in the Ryder Cup for the American team, tied in seventh place with 8 under par.
McIlroy, who again didn’t use his driver, had consecutive bogeys at the start of his second round, but reacted with birdies on four of his last six holes, achieving a second consecutive round of 69 strokes. He placed at 6 under par, along with Viktor Hovland (67), a member of the European team. Upon leaving the 18th hole at the Delhi Golf Club, McIlroy, world number 2, took off his cap and shook hands with Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, special guest of the tournament, at the back of the green.It was a strong finish, I got back into the tournament. I need a good start tomorrow.
Rory McIlroy
When asked if he would change his tee strategy over the weekend to be more aggressive in his attempt to catch Fleetwood, McIlroy responded:
The same strategy. I just have to hit a little closer with my second shots and not miss so many putts.I don’t think so. If I’m having trouble hitting the fairways with my 2-iron, I’m not going to use the driver.
Rory McIlroy
