A couple of close companions start the weekend at the 2025 India Championship in the first and second positions on the scoreboard. Tommy Fleetwood overtook Shane Lowry Friday at Delhi Golf Club with a remarkable second-round 64 to seize the sole lead at 12 under, one ahead of the Irishman and American Brian Harman.
“It’s simply such a distinct challenge for all of us,” Fleetwood expressed. “I haven’t used more than a 5-wood. The only hole where I used more is 18, but when you get to that, you’re thinking, ‘well, I haven’t used one, and I don’t really feel that confident with it.’ It’s such a unique challenge, and the greens are getting firmer and the pin positions have been difficult.
“It’s been very, very enjoyable. It’s a test of patience when you’re not quite on it because it’s one of those courses where you feel — if you hit it well off the tee, you’re going to have some short irons and wedges and feel like you’ve always got a chance to get it wrong. It’s such a waiting game. You’ve got to be very patient. It’s been a great test.”
Playing alongside Lowry and European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald for the second consecutive day, the Englishman began quickly with three birdies in his initial six holes. After a round where he recorded a couple of bogeys, Fleetwood excelled on Friday.
He added birdies on Nos. 17-18 — his eighth and ninth holes of the morning — and another on the par-5 1st to achieve a turkey around the turn. As he approached his last hole, he was at 11 under among several leaders and added another circle to his scorecard for good measure and the outright lead heading into the weekend.
Lowry, in the meantime, maintained his consistent play alongside Fleetwood. Although his scoring declined compared to his opening 64, the Ryder Cup star did enough to remain close to his competitor with a second-round 69. Lowry recorded four birdies on his scorecard against his only bogey of the week on the par-5 18th where he missed the green with a wedge from the middle of the fairway.
“I believe you need to play this golf course in the way you perceive it,” Lowry stated. “There are many holes where you’re not hitting much off the tee and you’re trying to get it in play, and that’s why I think it suits me. There are a lot of mid-irons out there, which are a strength of my game. I’m playing to my strengths this week, and hopefully I can be dangerous this weekend.”
Another former Open Champion in Harman has also been performing well through 36 holes. Admitting to some lack of sharpness due to his limited play since the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup conclusion, the left-hander looked strong in the second round and moved himself into contention with a 7-under 65.
Harman’s only error occurred when he lost his golf ball off the 13th tee, but he managed to recover and only lost one stroke to the field. He quickly overcame the poor swing and proceeded to play his next seven holes at 5-under.
“I’ve heard it described as a second-shot golf course, but the tee shots are difficult,” Harman mentioned. “I feel like it is quite a bit. It’s a little like an Open. You have to fit some shots into some places, just somewhat awkward. I’m striking it fairly well. Hit some irons in there pretty close. Saved par when I needed to. When I hit it in the trees, I didn’t make any big scores.”
Harman leads the American players in the competition, with the three notable players representing the United States positioned inside the top 10 after two rounds. Ben Griffin followed up his first-round 68 with another in Round 2, while Michael Kim did the same. The matching 68s from both players have them just four strokes behind Fleetwood’s lead at 8 under and tied for seventh place.
Griffin completed his round while sharing the fairways with Viktor Hovland and Rory McIlroy. Coincidentally, Hovland remained on the fairways throughout the day as the Norwegian hit all 14 fairways, achieving a bogey-free 67 and a spot inside the top 20 at 6 under — the same score McIlroy also finished with.
The Masters champion equaled his 69 on Thursday with another on Friday after experiencing another shaky start. A bogey on the par-5 opening hole set the tone for the afternoon, as he recorded three bogeys for the second consecutive day, including squares on Nos. 11-12 again.
McIlroy managed to fight his way back into this championship late, though, with four birdies in his final six holes.
“Today, I simply missed too many shots on the wrong side, forcing me to scramble, and it’s quite stressful trying to play from there,” McIlroy said. “Just be a little smarter and tidy everything up a bit. As you said, it’s probably easier said than done, but that’s what I’m going to try to do over the weekend.”
