In the heart-pounding arena of professional golf, few moments ignite more excitement than a championship where the leaders are neck-and-neck, and destiny hangs in the balance – and that's exactly what's unfolding at the DP World India Championship!
Ryder Cup heroes Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry are right in the thick of it, trailing the pack by just two and three strokes respectively heading into the final round of this prestigious event. But here's where it gets controversial: does a dash of luck in golf truly level the playing field, or is skill the ultimate decider? Let's dive into the details and see how these top players are battling it out in Delhi.
Fleetwood, who had claimed the solo lead midway through the tournament, and Lowry, the early frontrunner after round one, are both hot on the heels of Japan's Keita Nakajima. Rory McIlroy, the golfing icon, finds himself seven shots behind after firing a solid four-under 68 on Saturday. That round saw him rack up five birdies, offset by just one bogey – a testament to his precision under pressure, which beginners might appreciate as a masterclass in consistency on the greens.
Nakajima stole the show with a flawless seven-under 65, featuring seven birdies that included a spectacular 40-foot putt on the 12th hole. This propelled him to 17 under par overall, putting him firmly in pursuit of his second DP World Tour win and his maiden title since conquering the Hero Indian Open back in March 2024. And this is the part most people miss: Nakajima's affinity for Indian soil is no fluke – building on his spring victory, he secured a second-place finish in the same tournament just this year, showcasing how local courses can sometimes favor players who adapt quickly to unique challenges like variable weather or tricky pin positions.
Fleetwood, the reigning FedExCup champion, kicked off his day with a flourish, birdieing two of his first three holes and adding another at the eighth. He then navigated a string of eight consecutive pars before salvaging his round with a crucial birdie on the 18th. Now, for golf newcomers, imagine the tension: his approach shot bounced off a tree and nearly rolled into the hole for an eagle – talk about a stroke of fortune! In his own words, Fleetwood reflected, "It was a shame because my pace [with the putter] was pretty rubbish all day. I'm not going to be negative about it, I know I've got to do a bit of work on it but I've done so much good so far." He added, "Two behind is close enough where I'm still in control of it a little bit. Being in the final group is always great. You've got to enjoy those moments as you don't know when they're going to come again." This highlights the mental game in golf, where even top pros like Fleetwood – ranked fifth in the world – acknowledge the need for ongoing improvement, perhaps through practice drills that focus on putting rhythm.
Meanwhile, Lowry, sitting at 14 under, mirrored Fleetwood's three-under performance, though his day included five birdies tempered by two bogeys. The Irish star admitted, "I got very frustrated on the back nine. I started to hit very loose shots, made some silly mistakes." It's a relatable moment for amateurs too – golf can punish a momentary lapse, but recovery is key.
Tied for fourth at 13 under are Alex Fitzpatrick, Brian Harman, Daniel Hillier, and Jens Dantorp. Dantorp, in particular, matched Nakajima's round of the day with his own seven-under 65, bouncing back from an early bogey to string together eight birdies, seven of which came in a blistering nine-hole stretch from the sixth to the 14th. He noted, "If I shoot a low one [on Sunday] I could post a score and see what happens but I'd say I'm probably two shots too far behind to have a realistic chance." This underscores the unpredictability of golf tournaments, where a hot streak can suddenly vault players into contention, much like in major championships where comebacks often steal the headlines.
Viktor Hovland also kept his hopes alive with a bogey-free six-under 66, landing him in joint-eighth alongside England's Brandon Robinson-Thompson at 12 under. For context, Hovland's steady play exemplifies how avoiding errors can be just as crucial as making spectacular shots – a lesson worth noting for beginners aiming to shave strokes off their scores.
Don't miss the action: Tune in to watch the final round of the DP World India Championship live on Sky Sports Golf and Sky Sports Main Event starting at 7am on Sunday. If you're not already a subscriber, consider streaming the DP World Tour and more with a no-contract option via NOW. And for golfers eager to hit the links, secure the best deals and book a tee time at one of over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland.
But wait, does that lucky ricochet for Fleetwood change how you view golf as a sport? Is it pure skill, or does fate play a bigger role than we admit? Share your thoughts in the comments – do you agree that fortune favors the bold, or should we focus solely on technique? Let's hear your take!
