Two weeks after finishing second in Spain, Eugenio Chacarra did what Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy couldn’t in Delhi: he took control of the Race to Dubai. A third-round 63 gave him a five-shot cushion, and a steady 70 on Sunday was enough. With three events left, the former LIV player now leads Europe’s season-long race and has a real shot at an automatic Ryder Cup spot. Here’s how he won and what’s next.
The short version
- Chacarra won the DP World India Championship at 21-under, two shots clear of Daniel Hillier at Delhi Golf Club.
- It’s his third win of 2026 (KLM Open and Italian Open in June) and his fourth DP World Tour title.
- He moved to No. 1 in the Race to Dubai with 4,092.89 points. Reed (T23) slipped to second and McIlroy (T42) to third.
- McIlroy skips this week’s Genesis Championship in Korea; Chacarra plays. Then come Abu Dhabi (Nov. 5–8) and Dubai (Nov. 12–15).
How He Won
Chacarra did the damage on Saturday, shooting a nine-under 63 to open a five-shot lead. He birdied two of his first three holes on Sunday, gave one back at the sixth and steadied himself with several key par saves before a birdie at the 11th. Hillier got within two with three to play, but Chacarra closed it out with a final-round 70. He was the only player besides Hillier to finish within five shots of the lead.
| Pos. | Player | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eugenio Chacarra (Spain) | −21 |
| 2 | Daniel Hillier (New Zealand) | −19 |
| T3 | Adrian Meronk, Angel Hidalgo | −15 |
| T5 | Tommy Fleetwood, Gregorio De Leo, JC Ritchie, Joost Luiten | −13 |
| T23 | Patrick Reed | −8 |
| T42 | Rory McIlroy | −4 |
The event carried a $4 million purse; Chacarra’s share was about €606,000.
From LIV to the Top of Europe
Chacarra, 26, turned pro with LIV Golf in 2022. His DP World Tour breakthrough came as an invitee at the 2025 Hero Indian Open, which earned him full status. This season he won the KLM Open and the Italian Open back-to-back in June, finished third at the French Open and tied for second at the Open de España before winning in Delhi. If he holds on, he would join Seve Ballesteros and Jon Rahm as Spaniards to finish as Europe’s No. 1. He has also said he wants one of the six automatic spots on Luke Donald’s Ryder Cup team for Adare Manor next September.
A year and a half ago he was playing on an invitation. Now he leads the Race to Dubai with three events left.
What’s Left in the Race to Dubai
| Dates | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 22–25 | Genesis Championship, Woo Jeong Hills, South Korea | Last regular-season event; top 100 keep status. Chacarra plays, McIlroy doesn’t. |
| Nov. 5–8 | Abu Dhabi Championship | First playoff event |
| Nov. 12–15 | DP World Tour Championship, Dubai | Race to Dubai decided |
For the full standings story and the 10 PGA Tour cards on offer, see our Race to Dubai guide.
What to Watch
- Korea. With McIlroy sitting out, a strong week from Chacarra could stretch his lead before the playoffs.
- Reed. He led most of the season. He needs a big finish in Abu Dhabi or Dubai to win it back.
- McIlroy’s eighth. He’s chasing a record-tying eighth Race to Dubai title and plans to play both playoff events.
- LIV and the DP World Tour. The tour says players who sign for LIV 2.0 won’t get 2027 membership, which shapes Ryder Cup races too. Our LIV explainer has the details.
Who won the 2026 DP World India Championship?
Eugenio Chacarra of Spain, at 21-under at Delhi Golf Club, two shots ahead of Daniel Hillier.
Who leads the 2026 Race to Dubai?
Chacarra moved to No. 1 after his win in India, ahead of Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy, with three events left.
When is the Race to Dubai decided?
At the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, Nov. 12–15, 2026.
Sources
Divot Depot Tour News
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