Staff Reporter.
Japanese golfer Keita Nakajima shot a bogey-free, 7-under 65 to take a two-stroke lead at DP World India Championship after the third round Saturday.
The 25-year-old Nakajima, a former top-ranked amateur, has two European Ryder Cup stars as his nearest challengers with Tommy Fleetwood (69) in second place and Shane Lowry (69) a stroke back in third.
Elsewhere Englishman Alex Fitzpatrick had four birdies in his opening nine holes and finished with a five-under 67 to sit on 13 under.
Masters champion Rory McIlroy’s best round of the week – 68 to get to 10 under – saw him limit himself to just one bogey but he found himself seven back, further off the lead than when he started.
The world number two accepts chasing down the leaders is unlikely.
“If I shoot a low one tomorrow I could post a score and see what happens but I’d say I’m probably two shots too far behind to have a realistic chance,” he said.
The Northern Irishman spent Friday night at an event on stage in his Masters green jacket alongside national cricketing hero Sachin Tendulkar.