DP World India Championship: Nakajima's ninja approach to the top

New Delhi: Keita Nakajima likes to keep things simple - both his golf and conversations. Probe him about what makes him play good golf in this country, he answers: "I love India. That's why."

Over the last three days at the DP World India Championship, the Japanese has relied on relentless fortitude and a robotic approach through the course of 199 shots he has essayed so far. While acknowledging his own efforts, the 25-year-old also credited the feeling of home comfort his neighbouring country offers, helping him race to the top of the leaderboard at the Delhi Golf Club on Friday.

It is the same comfort that guided the Japanese to the Indian Open title in 2024 and a runner-up finish in 2025.  

Sticking to the process and striking the ball like a ninja, Nakajima shot a bogey-free third round of seven-under 65 following his first-two rounds of 65-69 for a three-day total of 17-under 199. Scoring four birdies on the front nine, the calm golfer made the turn to shoot three straight birdies from the 12th to the 14th hole. 

Trailing him two shots behind was overnight leader Tommy Fleetwood, whose putter went cold on a few holes while on the return. The world No. 5 Englishman missed a couple of easy birdie putts for pars even as a rare three putt saw him drop a shot on the penultimate 17th to finish three-under 69. This came after his eight-under 64 heroics in round two and an easy-looking 68 on day one to now stand at 15-under 201. 

Nakajima and Fleetwood will be joined by opening day leader Shane Lowry in the final day leader group. The Irishman lies third after carding another three-under 69 (64-69) for a total of 14-under 202. 

The top three will be chased by Sweden's Jens Dantorp (71-67-65), England's Alex Fitzpatrick (69-67-67), New Zealand's Daniel Hillier (NZ, 69-67-67) and USA's Brian Harman (68-65-70) who are all tied-4th at 13-under on the par-72 course. 

As the clamour at the top was beginning to get intense, the event's biggest star Rory McIlroy put together a four-under 68 after two consecutive 69s (overall 10-under) to position himself at tied-15.

The reigning Masters Champion's Ryder Cup mate, Viktor Hovland of Norway, carried his high spirits from the previous night's players' Diwali party into the next morning to shoot a blemish-free six-under 66 to be tied-8th along with England's Brandon Robinson Thompson (69-66-69). 

At a course such as the DGC, all the top-15 players at the end of the moving day have a real shot at the top prize on Sunday. Nakajima, Fleetwood and Lowry are sure to be wary of this fact. 

Sheoran best Indian

Carding his best round of the week on day three, Dhruv Sheoran finished five-under 67 to take his three-day total to eight-under 208 to be tied-25th as the top Indian out of the five who made cut. 

Scores (after 54 holes): 199: Keita Nakajima (Jpn, 65-69-65); 201: Tommy Fleetwood (Eng, 68-64-69); 202: Shane Lowry (Ire, 64-69-69); 203: Jens Dantorp (Swe, 71-67-65), Alex Fitzpatrick (Eng, 69-67-67), Daniel Hillier (NZ, 69-67-67), Brian Harman (USA, 68-65-70).