Tommy Fleetwood stays hot, takes 36-hole lead in India despite ‘unique challenge’

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[Jason Butler]

Scottie Scheffler may be the clear world No. 1, but it’s hard to argue that Tommy Fleetwood isn’t the hottest player on the planet right now.

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After (finally) winning his maiden PGA Tour title at the Tour Championship in August, the 34-year-old Englishman led Europe to a Ryder Cup win in September. And on Friday in India he kept rolling with a bogey-free 64 that has him atop the leaderboard midway through the DP World India Championship.

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“I hit it in the fairway a lot today and from there just gave myself the chance to hit some nice irons in and putted well as well for the second day in a row,” Fleetwood told reporters. “It’s easy to talk about how many things you did well when you shot eight under, but just a really good round of golf.”

What hasn’t been as easy is getting used to playing the tight confines of Delhi Golf Club. Like Rory McIlroy, Fleetwood has completely abandoned his driver during the first two days.

“It’s just such a unique challenge for all of us,” said Fleetwood, who is 12 under par through the first two rounds in India. “I haven’t hit more than a 5-wood. The one hole where I’d hit more is 18, but you get to that and you’re like, ‘well, I haven’t hit one, and I don’t really feel that comfortable with it.'”

Fleetwood started on the back nine, where he made five birdies. He finished with this beautiful birdie on the par-4 ninth hole:

Fleetwood is looking for an eighth DP World Tour title, but he has company near the top of the leaderboard. Both Brian Harman and fellow Euro teammate Shane Lowry trail by one shot.

McIlroy is in a tie for 17th place with several players including Viktor Hovland heading into the weekend.

“It has been a great two days,” said Fleetwood of playing with Lowry and European captain Luke Donald on Thursday and Friday. “I feel like if I’m playing with Shane for the next two days, I’m doing something right probably.”