Tommy Fleetwood benefited from a massive stroke of luck on the final hole of his third round at the DP World India Championship to end the day two shots behind leader Keita Nakajima.
Overnight leader Fleetwood endured a frustrating back nine at Delhi Golf Club, missing a succession of short putts as Japan’s Nakajima overtook him with a stunning seven-under-par round of 65.
England’s Fleetwood was trailing by three when he put his approach shot deep into trees lining the par-five 18th, but his ball bounced out and he was able to finish with a chip and a putt for birdie.
The 34-year-old’s 69 took him to 15 under for his three rounds, while Ryder Cup team-mate Shane Lowry is a shot back in third place after also carding a 69.
Elsewhere, England’s Alex Fitzpatrick is in a four-way tie for fourth place on 13 under following his bogey-free 67, while Rory McIlroy is down in 15th, on 10 under after his 68.
Fleetwood stormed into the lead with a dazzling eight-under 64 in Friday’s second round, but cut a frustrated figure on Saturday as his putter ran cold.
He was three under for the day at the turn, but missed two six-foot birdie putts on the back nine, then one from a similar distance on the 17th for par.
Nakajima seized his opportunity, making seven birdies and no bogeys as he moved from fourth place overnight to head the field on 17 under par.
Lowry, who played alongside Nakajima, also birdied the last to stay within touching distance of the lead.
“Keita played great today,” the Irishman told the DP World Tour. “He will be hard to beat tomorrow, but there will be a few of us not far behind him and hopefully giving him a run.”
