Eugenio Chacarra (-10) is on another level at the Hero Indian Open. The Madrid native doesn’t miss. A 70 on Saturday and moving day in the bag. Not only does he remain the leader after the third round, but he has managed to extend the lead. He will tee off this Sunday with a four-shot lead over MJ Daffue (-6) and Alex Fitzpatrick (-6) and five over Freddy Schott (-5) and David Law (-5).
It’s as simple as it is hard to explain. Chacarra plays a different game when he puts his kit on and steps up to the 1st tee at the DLF Golf and Country Club. It’s as if it had been built for him. As if they had thought of each of his best shots when laying out the holes. A fade here, a long iron there, lots of wedges, the greens drive everyone crazy except Eugenio… It’s simply astounding.
Chacarra again put on a masterclass in how to play this peculiar New Delhi course. He rarely misses a fairway, he’s usually in the right position, his irons are razor-sharp and find the right spots, no one plays the contours like the Wake Forest and Oklahoma golfer. It’s one exhibition after another. The DLF is a golf course that sooner or later catches you. Not Eugenio.
Today he began by holing a great birdie putt at the 5th, stumbled at the 6th, but immediately rattled off three consecutive birdies at holes 7, 8 and 9, playing textbook golf. No buts. All good. At the 8th, even, putting for eagle. Playing on another level. The only delicate moment came at the 15th. He had come from making two consecutive bogeys, those bogeys that crop up here from time to time. At the 13th he missed the fairway and you always pay a price, and the 14th plays effectively as a par 5. Even so, on both holes he had more than reasonable par chances.
He then faced a tricky par putt of about three metres at the 15th. He had been up by five shots and at that moment Fitzpatrick had closed to two. It was a turning point in the round. Well, Chacarra resolved it by holing the par putt at 15 and signing a sensational birdie at 16, including a huge shot and a five-metre downhill putt that fell on the final right-hand roll, dramatic. He finished with pars at 17 and 18. The round was there and the message to the rest of the field, sent. Anyone who wants to win the Indian Open will have to play better than Eugenio… and that is truly difficult on this course.
As things stand, Chacarra has put his second DP World Tour victory within reach, his second consecutive at this very tournament. In addition, he will be in a privileged position to qualify for the PGA Championship via one of the three spots awarded by the Asian Swing. India is the Spaniard’s promised land. The last player to win the Indian Open twice in a row was SSP Chawrasia. Another who played on another level when he was at home.
As for the rest of the Spaniards, the truth is it wasn’t a good Saturday. Only Ayora played to par. The rest lost ground. Manu Elvira (PAR), Ayora himself (+1) and Quim Vidal (+1) are more than entitled to dream of a top 10. They are two and three shots back. Also Jorge Campillo (+2). It’s tougher for Nacho Elvira (+3), Sebas García (+5) and Iván Cantero (+8). The Asturian had a wobble today, carding an 81.
