Imagine the thrill of a golf tournament where a single stroke of luck can flip the script entirely – that's the drama unfolding at the DP World India Championship, where Tommy Fleetwood's fortunes took a wild twist on the final hole of the third round. And this is the part most people miss: how one bounce of the ball can turn frustration into hope, keeping the leaderboard tighter than ever.
We're talking about the DP World India Championship's third round, where Japan's Keita Nakajima surged ahead to lead at 17 under par, with England's Tommy Fleetwood hot on his heels at 15 under, just two shots back. Ireland's Shane Lowry sits at 14 under, followed by a four-way tie for fourth place including Sweden's Jens Dantorp, England's Alex Fitzpatrick, New Zealand's Daniel Hillier, and America's Brian Harman, all at 13 under. For a bit more context, this is a tournament that often rewards consistency, but today showed how volatile golf can be – think of it like a chess game where one unexpected move changes the entire board.
Among the other notable performances, Norway's Viktor Hovland and England's Ben Robinson-Thompson are at 12 under, England's Dan Bradbury at 11 under, and Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, along with England's Bernhard Schmidt, both at 10 under. You can check out the full leaderboard here (https://www.bbc.com/sport/golf/leaderboard) for the complete picture.
Tommy Fleetwood, who started the day as the overnight leader, faced a rough back nine at Delhi Golf Club. He struggled with his putting, missing several short putts as Nakajima capitalized with a spectacular seven-under-par round of 65. Fleetwood was even three shots behind at one point, but fortune smiled on the par-five 18th. His approach shot landed deep in the trees, but – and here's where it gets controversial – the ball miraculously bounced out, allowing him to chip on and sink a putt for birdie. Is this pure luck, or does it highlight the unpredictable nature of the game? Some fans might argue it's skill in recovery, while others see it as an unfair twist – what do you think?
Fleetwood ended his day with a 69, totaling 15 under after three rounds, while his Ryder Cup teammate Shane Lowry also shot a 69 and finished just one shot behind in third. Elsewhere, Alex Fitzpatrick delivered a bogey-free 67 to climb into that fourth-place tie at 13 under, and Rory McIlroy, despite an even-par 68, sits in 15th at 10 under – a reminder that even legends can have off days.
Fleetwood had burst into the lead with an impressive eight-under 64 on Friday's second round, but Saturday saw his putter falter. He was three under through the front nine, yet missed key birdie chances on the back, including two six-foot putts and another on the 17th for par. Nakajima, meanwhile, pounced with seven birdies and no bogeys, jumping from fourth overnight to the top spot.
Lowry, who played alongside Nakajima, birdied the 18th himself to stay close, and summed it up perfectly: 'Keita played great today. He will be hard to beat tomorrow, but there will be a few of us not far behind him and hopefully giving him a run.'
But here's the intriguing twist: With such a packed leaderboard, is Nakajima's dominance a sign of true mastery, or could we see a comeback from Fleetwood or Lowry? Golf purists might debate whether relying on luck undermines the sport's purity – after all, isn't it supposed to be about precision and strategy? Do you believe Fleetwood's fortunate bounce will propel him to victory, or is this just setting up a heartbreaker? And what about the role of mental toughness in bouncing back from putting woes? Share your opinions in the comments – do you side with the 'skill over luck' camp, or think these moments make golf even more exciting? Let's discuss!
