Tommy Fleetwood’s Incredible Season Just Reached New Heights with DP World Tour Victory in India
NEW DELHI — In an astonishing turn of events, Tommy Fleetwood has elevated his already impressive season to new levels after claiming victory at the DP World India Championship on Sunday. With a dazzling display, he unleashed four consecutive birdies just after the halfway mark and finished strong with a score of 7-under 65, ultimately securing a two-shot triumph over Keita Nakajima.
This victory marks Fleetwood’s third reason to celebrate in the last three months. He previously triumphed by clinching the FedExCup title, marking his first victory on U.S. soil, and was the standout points-earner for Team Europe in the recent Ryder Cup. Now, he has added his first win of the year on the European Tour to his impressive list of accomplishments.
Starting the final round at Delhi Golf Club with a two-shot lead, Nakajima managed to keep his game clean without any bogeys. However, he found it challenging to maintain his earlier momentum against Fleetwood, who, beginning at the par-3 seventh hole, surged ahead by transforming a two-shot deficit into a commanding two-shot lead with four consecutive birdies.
"With all the positives this year, there have been some disappointments too," expressed Fleetwood, who had yet to win on the DP World Tour up until this point. "Winning again feels absolutely fantastic."
At 34, despite already having several highlights, including a standout performance in the Ryder Cup, Fleetwood believed he had additional goals to achieve this year. Winning on the European circuit was crucial for him, especially since this victory was his eighth overall on this circuit. Despite his successes on the PGA Tour earlier in the season, he had found himself ineligible to participate in the final two events of the European schedule — until now. This victory has propelled him from No. 94 to No. 25 in the Race to Dubai standings, thus granting him eligibility for the upcoming Abu Dhabi Championship as well as the season-ending Tour Championship in Dubai.
One of the most heartwarming moments for Fleetwood was witnessing his 8-year-old son, Frankie, eagerly rush onto the 18th green to congratulate him after he tapped in for a par, concluding his round at an impressive 22-under 266. Recently, during one of their practice rounds, Frankie expressed that he had never been able to celebrate a tournament win with his dad out on the green.
"All day long, I kept thinking, ‘Can I put myself in a position for that to happen?" Fleetwood recalled. "Those small moments mean the world to me. It was incredibly special. That was my goal for the day."
On the other hand, Nakajima faced challenges with his tee accuracy just when it became necessary to make a late-game comeback, despite managing to sink enough putts to stay competitive. He finished with a score of 69, which placed him among the top 10 European Tour players in contention for PGA Tour cards in the upcoming year.
Joining him in a tie for third place were Shane Lowry (68), Thriston Lawrence (65), and Alex Fitzpatrick (67), all finishing with a score of 270. Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy, playing in India for the first time in his career, birdied his final hole, finishing with a 71 and arriving in a tie for 26th, trailing Fleetwood by 11 shots.
But here's where it gets intriguing: the differing opinions on how significant this victory may be in the long run for Fleetwood’s career. What do you think? Is this win going to be a game-changer for him, or simply another notch on his belt? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
