Tommy Fleetwood’s very good, very successful, golf-is-too-easy fall season shows no sign of slowing down.
The toast of the golf world, fresh off a dominant Ryder Cup performance and Tour Championship victory – his first on the PGA Tour – now leads the DP World India Championship, a first-year DP World Tour event that features several big names (thanks to a little help from performances).
Fleetwood shot an eight-under 64 at Delhi Golf Club in New Delhi, India, on Friday, a round highlighted by birdies in five of his last eight. That followed his opening round 68, and he now heads into the weekend ahead of Brian Harman and Shane Lowry by one. Rory McIlroy, on six under, is six back.
Fleetwood said he wasn’t happy with the way he finished his round Thursday, but hit balls afterward and felt his swing was in a better place on Friday.
“I hit the fairway a lot today and gave myself some opportunities with irons,” he said. “It’s easy to talk about how many things you did right when you shot eight under, but a very good round of golf.”
Delhi Golf Club is a unique test for professionals this week. It is shorter and tighter and does not require a driver as often as in the United States. McIlroy has completely put away his faithful driver. Fleetwood said he hasn’t hit more than a 5-wood.
“It’s such a unique challenge, and the greens get a little firmer and the pins were tricky,” he said. “It’s been very, very enjoyable. It’s a test of patience if you’re not quite into it yet, because just as it’s one of those courses, you get a few where you feel like if you hit the ball right off the tee, you’re going to have some short irons and wedges and you feel like you always have the chance to be wrong. It’s such a waiting game. You have to be very patient. It was a great test.”
To his credit, Fleetwood has passed most of his tests in recent months. The fan favorite was long known as one of the best golfers in the world who had never won on the major tour (despite his DP World Tour success) and had even more close calls this summer. But in August he won the Tour Championship and the $10 million FedEx Cup title to shed that tag.
A month later he was the Europeans’ best player at Bethpage Black, scoring four points and leading Europe to an away win in the Ryder Cup.
That familiarity with the Ryder Cup has also been carried over this week. Fleetwood sat with fellow Ryder Cupper Shane Lowry and European captain Luke Donald for the first two rounds.
“Incredible three ball,” Fleetwood said. “I think because you’re so comfortable with each other, you do your own thing. Yeah, I mean, like it’s always a links-style golf course, which is a bonus when you’re with two guys that you’re close with. So yeah, I saw the draw, or Shane even told me about the draw, and I was very pleased. It was a great two days.”
#Tommy #Fleetwoods #heating #shows #sign #slowing