DP World India Championship: Fleetwood controls nerves and shots to claim inaugural title

Tommy Fleetwood ensured there would be no final day jitters, marking a memorable return to India and the Delhi Golf Club as the maiden winner of the inaugural DP World India Championship on Sunday.

Fleetwood carded a 65 in the final round for a 21-under par for the tournament, two shots clear of overnight leader Keita Nakajima — winner of the Indian Open in 2024 and runner-up this year — who finished 19-under with a 69 on Sunday. 

The Englishman, second at the end of Day Three two shots behind Nakajima, played an aggressive hand from the beginning and, despite dropping a shot on the second hole, did not let up on his chase of the top. It was a high-risk-high reward strategy but the gamble paid off with Fleetwood sinking five birdies on the front nine and four consecutive from 7-10 holes to share lead, then added two more on the 14th and 17th.

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But both trailed New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier, the surprise leader at that point. Hillier, who started four behind the leader, was on fire in the front nine, gaining six shots including four consecutive birdies to leapfrog into sole lead. Just when it looked like he could do no wrong, Hillier hit his 14th tee deep into the bushes impossible to hit out of. He took the penalty and dropped a shot, then missed an easy putt for a double bogey and could never recover, finishing six shots behind the winner.

Fleetwood and Nakajima, meanwhile, stayed close with the Japanese pushing hard all the way but Fleetwood kept his calm and extended his slender lead with a massive birdie putt on the 14th for a four-day total of 266. 

Fleetwood, who has had a fruitful 2025 including his maiden PGA Tour title in August and being part of Europe’s Ryder Cup victory, also moved into top-five in world rankings for the first time ever with the result.

The star of the event, Rory McIlroy, however, had his worst round of the week, carding 71 to finish tied-26th while Shiv Kapur was the best Indian at tied-32 with his best round of 68.

Published on Oct 19, 2025