Tommy Fleetwood will take a one-shot lead into the weekend at the 2025 DP World India Championship after making eight birdies and no bogeys in a stunning second-round 64.
The reigning FedExCup Champion started the day four shots behind first-round leader and playing partner Shane Lowry after kicking off his campaign with a 68 on Thursday.
But he soon closed the gap as the Englishman fired five birdies on his way to the turn on Friday morning before picking up three more shots coming home to set the clubhouse target at 12 under par.
Although a charging Keita Nakajima got close to his score at one stage, no-one in the afternoon was able to catch Fleetwood, who holds a slender advantage at the halfway stage.
Fleetwood has Major Champions Lowry and Brian Harman breathing down his neck just one shot behind him on 11 under, while Nakajima sits another shot further back in fourth place.
Ryder Cup hero Fleetwood started his second round from the tenth tee and opened his birdie account from ten feet on the 11th hole.
He picked up further shots at the 13th and 15th before reeling off a hat-trick of birdies on the 17th, 18th and first.
A 16-footer on the fourth saw Fleetwood take the outright lead on 11 under and he finished with an eight-foot birdie at the ninth to keep a stellar chasing pack at bay.
He said: "I played better than yesterday, I think. I wasn't happy with how I hit it towards the end yesterday. I hit some balls afterwards, and I felt like today the swing was in a better place.
"I hit it in the fairway a lot today and from there just gave myself the chance to hit some nice irons in and putted well as well for the second day in a row.
"It's easy to talk about how many things you did well when you shot eight under, but just a really good round of golf."
Speaking about the test Delhi Golf Club is providing so far this week, Fleetwood added: "It's just such a unique challenge for all of us.
"I haven't hit more than a five wood. The one hole where I'd hit more is 18, but you get to that and you're like, 'well, I haven't hit one, and I don't really feel that comfortable with it'.
"It's such a unique challenge, and the greens are firming out a little bit and the pins have been tricky.
"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, you get a few of them where you feel if you hit it good off the tee you're going to have some short irons and wedges and feel like you've always got a chance of going on a run.
"It's such a waiting game. You've got to be very patient. It's been a great test."
