Fleetwood loses lead to Japan’s Nakajima in India

Third round of the DP World India Championship

-17 K Nakajima (Jpn), -15 T Fleetwood (Eng), -14 S Lowry (Ire), -13 J Dantorp (Swe), A Fitzpatrick (Eng), D Hillier (NZ), B Harman (US)

Selected others: -12 V Hovland (Nor), B Robinson-Thompson (Eng), -11 D Bradbury (Eng), -10 R McIlroy (NI), B Schmidt (Eng)

Tommy Fleetwood finished the third round of the DP World India Championship two shots clear of Keita Nakajima, who had already lost by one shot.

At Delhi Golf Club, overnight leader Fleetwood battled a frustrating back nine after being overtaken by Nakajima of Japan with a stunning seven-under-par round of 65.

When England’s Fleetwood placed his approach shot deep into the trees lining the par-five 18th, he was in three points before chipping in and making a birdie putt.

The 34-year-old carded a 69, while Ryder Cup team-mate Shane Lowry is a shot back in third place after also carding a 69. This brings him to 15 under for his three rounds.

Rory McIlroy is in 15th place, 10 under, after his 68, while England’s Alex Fitzpatrick is in a four-way tie for fourth place on 13 under.

In Friday’s second round, Fleetwood won the tournament by shooting an impressive eight-under-par 64, but he was frustrated on Saturday as his putter drained.

At the turn, he was three under par for the day, but he made two six-foot birdie putts on the back nine and one from par for par on the 17th.

Nakajima made seven birdies and one bogey in the opening round of par, moving from fourth place overnight.

Lowry, who shared the lead, birdied the final two holes to keep him within striking distance.