So maybe the jungles lining Delhi Golf Club’s narrow fairways aren’t so penal after all. Or at least the one on the left side of the 18th hole wasn’t on Saturday for Tommy Fleetwood.
Fleetwood, the 36-hole leader, had become a chaser after Keita Nakajima posted a bogey-free 65 to hold a three-shot lead at the DP World India Championship as Fleetwood finished his third round.
Both players were among the nearly 50% field this week, playing without a driver on a unique Delhi Golf Club layout that is basically cut into the jungle just outside one of the world’s largest cities. The fairways at the 6,912-yard course average just 25 yards wide.
Fleetwood nearly found out just what happens after an errant shot on his final hole Saturday. From the left first cut of rough at the finishing hole, Fleetwood went for the par-5 green in two with a long iron on the course’s longest hole and pulled it further left toward the thicket.
The crowd was quiet as Fleetwood’s ball headed toward what could have been a best-case unplayable lie and likely lost ball, but as it turns out, having thick jungle just off the fairway acts as a bumper sometimes.
In a genius stroke of luck, Fleetwood’s ball ricocheted off the trees and kicked right back into the middle of the fairway, just in front of the par-5 green in two.
From there, Fleetwood got up-and-down for birdie, regaining the shot he dropped with a three-putt on 17 and will go into Sunday’s final round at 15 under, in solo second, two back of Nakajima.
On a course where players fear an errant shot like no other venue we’ve seen in modern times, Fleetwood ended up a birdie after his worst shot of the week.
“Focus on that really good stuff and know that if I play like that, I’ve got a really good chance of scoring and shooting a good round,” he said of his position going into Sunday’s final round. “Two behind is kind of close enough where I’m still in control of it a little bit. Keita is not far enough ahead where he’s completely in control.”
Also in the hunt is Fleetwood’s Ryder Cup teammate Shane Lowry, who is just a shot further back at 14 under before a four-way tie at 13 that includes 2023 Open Championship winner Brian Harman.
I’m in a great position in this tournament. I like the golf course,” said Lowry, one player who is playing a driver this week. “I think it suits me, and I think I’ll have a low score out there. I’ve already shown that once this week. I’ll need a low one tomorrow to try and win.”
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