Eugenio Chacarra vaulted to the top of the Race to Dubai standings after winning the DP World India Championship with a 21-under-par total at the Delhi Golf Club, overtaking Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy in the European season-long points race. Exactly one year, six months, and 14 days after a previous invitation to the Hero Indian Open that turned his career around following a turbulent departure from LIV Golf at the start of 2025—where he completed 34 tournaments, took one victory, and banked nearly 17 million dollars—the 26-year-old Spaniard arrived in India after finishing third in France and second at the Open de España.
Chacarra seals a dominant victory in New Delhi
Playing through a marathon final day that required completing up to 25 holes following weather delays earlier in the week, Chacarra carded a closing 70 to finish two strokes clear of runner-up Daniel Hillier. The 26-year-old Spaniard secured his sixth professional title and his third on the European circuit this season, adding to previous victories at the KLM Open and the Italian Open. His performance at the Delhi Golf Club included rounds of 67, 67, and 63. His fourth title in a year and a half followed a morning wakeup call at 3:30 a.m. at his team headquarters to finish the remaining seven holes of his third round—featuring three birdies and an eagle for a 5-under stretch—before stepping out in his Sunday orange, honoring Oklahoma State University colors. His four-shot overnight lead was maintained despite three-putting for bogey on the 6th hole and errant tee shots into the rough on the 8th, 9th, and 10th holes, where he saved par with a downhill putt from six meters on the 10th. He gained almost eight strokes on the greens over the tournament average. Actualizado Domingo, 18 octubre 2026 – 15:43Hace 567 días Eugenio Chacarra no tenía dónde jugar y hoy es el líder de la Race to Dubai por delante de Patrick Reed y Rory McIlroy,
noted coverage of his ascent. He also claimed a previous victory in India in 2025, alongside an Asian Tour win in 2023 and his 2022 victory at the LIV event in Bangkok. His major championship appearances to date comprise the 2024 US Open where he missed the cut, the 2025 PGA Championship where he missed the cut, and the 2026 Open Championship where he finished 46th.
THIRD WIN OF THE SEASON 🏆Eugenio Chacarra wins the 2026 DP World India Championship 🇮🇳#DPWIC pic.twitter.com/HHFncRCNFP
I know what I’m capable of, I was one of the best amateurs in the world and I wanted to be one of the best professional players in the world,
Chacarra told reporters after the round. I work really hard, I’ve got a great team surrounding me, they’re always trying to make me better.
Ryder Cup radar and PGA Tour promotion
The victory secures Chacarra’s place on the PGA Tour next season, making him the first Spanish player on the American circuit since Jon Rahm’s departure in December 2023. His rise over the past year and a half has also placed him in the sights of European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald, who met Chacarra on the 18th green to offer congratulations. Donald told the champion Otra victoria…, continúa así…
as he monitored prospects ahead of the 2027 contest at Adare Manor. Chacarra now sits atop the Race to Dubai with 4,092 points, ahead of Reed at 3,474 and McIlroy at 3,144.
Hidalgo charges into contention as McIlroy stumbles
Ángel Hidalgo delivered one of the most entertaining rounds of the weekend, finishing at 15-under-par and sharing third place alongside Adrian Meronk. Starting six shots behind the leader, Hidalgo opened with two consecutive birdies and finished in third place with a score of 15 under par, putting on a show with his play before finishing the tournament.
The final stretch toward the European crown
With the victory in India, Chacarra positioning himself to challenge for a title that only two Spanish golfers have ever claimed: Severiano Ballesteros, who won the Order of Merit six times, and Jon Rahm, who triumphed in 2019. Only three tournaments remain on the DP World Tour calendar: a stop in Korea next week followed by the season-ending playoffs in Abu Dhabi from November 5 to 8 and Dubai from November 12 to 15, where the final points champion will be crowned.
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