Fading light suspends India Championship second round with four tied for lead
Rory McIlroy had completed only four holes in New Delhi as fading light halted play. Three players finished at eight under, while Thomas Detry was level with them mid-round.
The DP World India Championship's second round was suspended because of fading light in New Delhi on Friday, 16 October, leaving Rory McIlroy and other contenders with unfinished rounds. Four players shared the lead at eight under par, although only three of them had completed 36 holes. Play was scheduled to resume at 6:45 a.m. local time on Saturday, 17 October.
Four players tied at eight under
Joost Luiten, Angel Hidalgo and Adrian Meronk finished their second rounds at eight under overall. Thomas Detry was level with them when play stopped, but still had holes to complete. His position at the top was therefore subject to the remainder of his round, while the other three had posted their scores.
Eddie Pepperell and Todd Clements also reached the clubhouse. Both were seven under, one shot behind the leaders; Pepperell had shot a six-under-par 66. Tom McKibbin was five under after seven holes of his second round, according to BBC Sport, leaving him three shots off the lead with much of his round still to play.
McIlroy's round cut short after four holes
McIlroy began his second round with an eagle and followed it with three pars before play was halted. He was four under overall after four holes, four strokes behind the leaders. The PA report carried by The Independent said he had opened the tournament with a two-under-par 70 and came into this event third in the DP World Tour standings as he pursued a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title.
Defending champion Tommy Fleetwood was also four under overall after four holes on Friday. Robert MacIntyre stood at four under too. Their scores left them within four strokes of the lead, but the unfinished rounds meant the standings could change when play resumed.
Rain delays preceded Friday's stoppage
The disruption followed a five-hour delay to Thursday's opening round caused by heavy rain and thunderstorms. PA reported that Luiten consequently played 34 holes on Friday before finishing his second round. Patrick Reed completed his round at level par overall after shooting three under on Friday despite a double bogey at the fourth, the agency reported.
The second round was due to restart at 6:45 a.m. in New Delhi on Saturday, equivalent to 2:45 a.m. BST. That scheduled resumption would give McIlroy, Detry, Fleetwood and the other players still on the course a chance to complete their rounds before the leaderboard could be settled.
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Sources and context
- Fading light forces suspension of DP World India Championship second roundThe Independent, reporting by PA
- India Championship: Fading light stops second round in New DehliBBC Sport, Andy Gray
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.