NEW DELHI — Tommy Fleetwood stored up his sturdy end to the season by capturing an 8-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead on the midway level of the DP World India Championship as Ryder Cup teammate Rory McIlroy battled to remain in competition Friday.
Over the previous two months, Fleetwood has gained the Tour Championship for his first PGA Tour title — selecting up $10 million because the FedEx Cup champion within the course of — and been the highest factors scorer on the Ryder Cup retained by Crew Europe.
Now the Englishman, as much as No. 5 on this planet rankings, is main maybe essentially the most prestigious golf match ever to be staged in India after making eight birdies in a bogey-free second spherical to leap to 12-under par for the week.
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Fleetwood’s final birdie — from 8 toes at his final, No. 9 — left him away from former Open champions Shane Lowry (69) and Brian Harman (65), who had been tied for second place.
Fleetwood described the course on the tight, tree-lined Delhi Golf Membership as a “distinctive problem for all of us.”
“I have not hit greater than a 5-wood,” he stated. “It is a check of endurance. … For those who hit it good off the tee, you are going to have some quick irons and wedges, and [you] really feel such as you’ve all the time obtained an opportunity to get it fallacious. It is such a ready sport.”
An extra three pictures again was Ben Griffin, a rookie for the Individuals on the Ryder Cup, in a tie for seventh place at 8 below.
McIlroy, who once more did not put his driver in his bag, had back-to-back bogeys early in his again 9 however responded by making birdie at 4 of his last six holes to shoot a second straight 69. He was at 6 below, together with fellow European workforce member Viktor Hovland (67).
Because the No. 2-ranked McIlroy walked off No. 18 on the tree-lined Delhi Golf Membership, he eliminated his cap and shook arms with India cricket nice Sachin Tendulkar, a particular visitor for the match, behind the inexperienced.
“It was a powerful end, obtained myself type of again within the match. I would like a powerful begin tomorrow,” McIlroy stated.
Requested if he can be altering his technique off the tee over the weekend to get extra aggressive in a bid to chase down Fleetwood, McIlroy stated: “I do not suppose so. I feel if I am struggling to hit fairways with my 2-iron, I am not going to hit it with my driver.
“Identical technique. Simply must hit it just a little nearer with my second pictures and never miss as many putts.”
