Because of heavy rain and threat of lightning, stopped the Spaniard from producing a fine round on Day 1 of the $4 million DP World India Championship on Thursday, new Delhi: The broken toe of Eugenio Chacarra is still on the mend, but neither that, nor a five-and-half hour stoppage.
“It was a long day. Happy with my game, good start to the first round. The course was drenched when play resumed. After the round, he saw the positive of gaining a shot on his 17th after dropping one at the end. And he looked forward to continuing his fine run in a country he has done very well. Chacara’s India love story began two years ago. He ended up with a one-shot victory.
Woke up at 4.30 (for his 6.25am start) and now it is what, 5pm. Lucky we got 18 holes in. Having lost his place in the LIV Golf tour at 2024-end, he was handed a sponsor’s invite for the 2025 Hero Indian Open, a DP World Tour event played at Gurugram’s tough DLF Golf and Country Club course.
“There was definitely a lot of water, it doesn’t drain a lot of water, this course,” said Chacarra, who was -5 after 15 holes when play had halted.
The tall player has not looked back since. This season on the DP World Tour (European golf tour), he has two wins and two second places. That has helped lift him to second in the Road to Dubai Rankings. With three events left, he fancies his chances. The top finishers on the DP World Tour will get automatic spots on the PGA Tour. McKibben, who plays at the Hollywood Golf Club, the same home club as McIlroy, will have a decision to make. Having played on LIV Golf, he wasn’t willing to commit whether he would return to the league, which is trying to put together a fresh edition.
