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The moment Tommy Fleetwood secured a two-shot victory at the inaugural DP World India Championship, his son Frankie sprinted across the 18th green and leapt into his arms—a moment the Englishman had quietly cherished all week.
In a thrilling final round at the Delhi Golf Club, Fleetwood, who began the day two shots behind, showcased his trademark calm under pressure, holding off a spirited challenge from New Zealander Daniel Hiller (69) to finish with a total of 266 and claim his eighth DP World Tour title—his first on Indian soil.
“We were playing golf last week. I mean, to be honest, he (Frankie) never shuts up, so there’s always something coming out of his mouth, and he just happened to say randomly, he said, ‘you know what you’ve never done’.
He said—it could have been anything, to be fair. He said, ‘you’ve never won a tournament and I’ve been able to run on to the 18th green’,” Fleetwood shared.
“He just mentioned it casually. I didn’t really respond, but I thought I’m going to hold onto that – I wrote it down when I got back, and I kept it in mind.
“I know there are events to come while we’re playing at home, and obviously I’m fortunate that my family gets to travel with me quite often. But it was something that stayed with me. ‘You have never won and I’ve run onto the green’. That was the quote that drove me.”
Fleetwood had ended his long wait for a first PGA TOUR title at the Tour Championship, capturing the FedExCup in August, and played a key role in Europe’s historic away Ryder Cup victory at Bethpage Black in September.
“I know form doesn’t last forever, but I’m trying to make myself the most consistent player I can be,” Fleetwood told reporters during the press conference after hoisting the gleaming trophy.
“At the start of the week, I said I’ve had such a great year, but there were a few things that disappointed me, and my performance on the DP World Tour was one of those. Not being where I want to be in terms of the Order of Merit and how I’ve played on this tour was something that bothered me.
“This win means a lot. It means I can continue and play Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and there are still opportunities left.”
Fleetwood’s composed finish capped off a strong season that saw him contending across continents and playing key roles in team events. Yet, he remains hungry for more—particularly a maiden Major championship.
“It would be nice,” he said with a smile. “I imagine those things all the time; it’s just about making them a reality. When the season ends, you look at targets and goals for the following year. I still have two tournaments to go and things I want to complete, and then I’ll look towards 2026 and see what we can do.
“The two things that disappointed me this year were my Major performances and my position in the DP World Tour rankings—those are things I’ll focus on next year.”
On managing pressure down the stretch, Fleetwood admitted he doesn’t entirely avoid the leaderboard – but he knows when to refocus.
“I would love to kind of watch them less,” he said. “But they’re there, so I’m just aware. I look at the scoreboards, but then I have to bring myself back to the golf shot in front of me. I saw Dan had a good start. After three holes, I was three behind Keita maybe, so people had started off fast. You just have to keep playing, keep focusing and not force things.
“I looked at the leaderboard on 14, and suddenly I was leading on my own—Dan had struggled on that hole. You never really know what’s going to happen. You can’t control anybody else, just yourself.”
The 33-year-old Englishman also expressed gratitude for the warmth he and his family experienced throughout the week.
“I’ve enjoyed the fans here in Delhi and the hospitality we’ve received, how everyone has been so kind to me and my family,” he said. “I didn’t need a reason to come back anyway, but having a trophy to defend is a very good reason—even though I didn’t need one.”
Asked about his interaction with Indian cricketer Abhishek Sharma, Fleetwood said: “It was great. It was really nice to meet Abhi. He’s a really cool guy. We hit it off instantly. He might say he doesn’t like me, but I’d say we’re new friends. He’s got an amazing career ahead and a bright future.”
