Rising to fifth on the World Golf Rankings, Tommy Fleetwood’s successful year continued after a victory in New Delhi in the DP World India Championship last week. These past few months should not go understated for the Brit. In August, Fleetwood won the FedEx Cup Championship. In September, he helped Europe to win the Ryder Cup. Now, in October, Fleetwood has won the DP World India Championship.
On a strange and relatively small course, Fleetwood had to leave his driver in the bag for the majority of holes, resorting to well-placed shots with other clubs. This helped Fleetwood play to his strengths, as he is more known for his short irons than his long drives off the tee box.
Throughout the first three rounds, the lead changed hands several times. Saturday’s clubhouse leader, Japan’s Keita Nakajima, caught patrons by surprise with solid ball-striking and poise while under pressure. After a hard-fought round, Fleetwood was able to overtake him in the final round thanks to a blazing run of birdies from holes 7 to 10 that set him apart from the pack.
Fleetwood’s general style of play and passion for golf have turned him into a fan favorite. He has become known for his ability to stay calm under pressure and hit clutch shots when necessary. His skillfulness in managing his final round on a course that penalized wayward drives drew praise. It was a moment of narrative change for him: no longer the “nearly-man,” but a proven winner.
Fleetwood’s triumph in India marks his eighth victory on the DP World Tour and his first since January 2024. What makes the win particularly meaningful is how it ties into his broader career arc, following a string of high finishes and close calls on the PGA Tour. In the past, Fleetwood dealt with adversity throughout his PGA tour career—he was winless in an unprecedented 162 starts, with a slew of heartbreaking, runner-up finishes that left fans everywhere sympathetic to his struggles at the finish line. Fleetwood finally broke through earlier this year by winning the Tour Championship and claiming the FedEx Cup and it’s safe to say that he hasn’t stopped since.
The DP World India Championship isn’t just another tournament – it is a clear attempt by the Tour to push into new markets where golf has taken a backseat to other sports. This event specifically demonstrates that India can host golf tournaments that draw attention worldwide. By placing a tournament in New Delhi, the Tour can access a possibly massive South-Asian market. The competitive tension of the event drew massive crowds and helped to validate the Tour’s expansion strategy.
With that being said, the result has real implications for the season-long race to Dubai. With only a handful of events remaining, every ranking point and win counts. Fleetwood’s win ensures he remains in contention, while a strong finish in the rest of the Indian tournaments can serve as momentum for the remaining playoff events.
Tommy Fleetwood’s victory is the headline, but the sub-story of India’s emergence on the Tour map is perhaps equally significant. As the DP World Tour heads toward its finale, the Delhi event may very well be remembered as a pivotal chapter for both individual players’ goals as well as the sport’s global ambitions.
