Some come, others go, but the one who always stays in India is Eugenio Chacarra (-8). The Madrid-born golfer finished his second round at the Hero Indian Open with two birdies at holes 8 and 9 and has moved into sole possession of first place. The defending champion is once again in charge of operations. He posted a 69 this Friday and holds a one-shot lead over the day’s, and probably the week’s, main protagonist. The South African Casey Jarvis (-7) produced a sensational 64 (eight under par) to get into the fight for the win. Remember he already has two this year. It would be rare for anyone to better that score for the remainder of the tournament.
Chacarra once again paid tribute to patience. Who knows if that is precisely the key to how well he handles himself around the DLF Golf and Country Club. Mistakes and bogeys matter, of course, but less than on other courses. Perhaps for that reason, both yesterday and today, he managed to digest two poor starts in a natural and even positive way. This Friday he began with two birdies at holes 10 and 14, curiously the stretch where he gained most on Thursday. Far from losing his nerve he kept calm and knew how to wait for the opportunity until a magnificent eagle arrived at 18.
At that moment he was again level with the course, although what came next was another stumble, a bogey at the 3rd. The same pattern repeated. Rather than getting nervous or rushing, he waited for his moment and finished firing. Four under between holes 4 and 9, first taking advantage of the par 5, posting an excellent birdie at 5 and finishing with two textbook birdies at 8 and 9. On the first, a par 5, he reached the green in two, went for it, and two-putted for birdie, and at 9 he hit a magnificent wedge to just over two metres from the flag and sank the putt.
Chacarra’s key at this DLF is strategy and patience. He plays it very well. He is almost always in the fairway and then has a wedge in his hands that he is making wonderful use of. For now, a flawless title defence for the Madrid man.
One shot back is Jarvis, one of the in-form players on the DP World Tour. The South African returned a card with nine birdies and a solitary bogey. A rara avis. It is true that the greens are a bit more receptive thanks to recent watering, but even so you have to play very, very well, and also have a small dose of luck (on the 8th he was close to going into the jungle) to put together a round of that calibre on this course.
Next in the standings is MJ Daffue, another South African. He is not just any name. He comes from the second division, the HotelPlanner Tour, where he has already won two tournaments this year, the most recent precisely in India last week. He is in form and moves like a fish in water around here. The same goes for Quim Vidal (-3). The Spanish golfer has provisionally moved into the top 10, at least until the afternoon tee times complete the day, after a 71 today. Another great round from the young Catalan. Another who, like Chacarra, has shown he gets on well with India. Not for nothing, last year he recorded his only win on the HotelPlanner Tour in this country. It was his springboard to rise to the DP World Tour.
Also, Nacho Elvira (+2) posted a fine 69 this Friday to make the cut, while Pablo Larrazábal (+6) missed out. It is the fourth consecutive cut Pablo has missed and the seventh in the last eight tournaments.
