Eugenio Chacarra Wins in Delhi to Top Race to Dubai Rankings

• Eugenio Chacarra won the DP World India Championship by two shots at Delhi Golf Club.
• New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier finished alone in second place.
• The victory lifts Chacarra above Patrick Reed to the top of the Race to Dubai Rankings.

Eugenio Chacarra played 25 holes at Delhi Golf Club on Sunday and finished them as the new leader of the Race to Dubai Rankings. A closing 70 gave the Spaniard a two-shot victory at the DP World India Championship on 21-under par, his third DP World Tour title of a remarkable 2026.

It also ends Patrick Reed’s stay at the summit. The American has led the standings since February, with wins at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and the Qatar Masters.

A fortnight ago Chacarra fractured his toe on a midnight trip for a glass of water before the Open de España and questioned whether walking 18 holes was worth the pain with so much still to play for. He went on to share second place in Madrid and has now won in Delhi.

The win adds to his back-to-back summer victories at the KLM Open and the Open d’Italia in June. It is his fourth DP World Tour title in all. India has been good to him: his first came at the Hero Indian Open in 2025 at nearby DLF Golf and Country Club, in only his ninth start and on an invitation.

How did the final day unfold?

Storms on Thursday left the tournament behind schedule all week. Chacarra had seven holes of his third round to play when he went to bed on Saturday leading by two. He completed a 63 on Sunday morning to take a five-shot lead into the fourth round.

He kept attacking. A birdie at the 1st was followed by a 17-footer at the 3rd, and he was six clear of the field.

His first bogey came at the 6th, where his par putt horseshoed out. The contest became a match against playing partner and compatriot Ángel Hidalgo, and Chacarra held him off with two par saves. The first, at the 9th, kept him four ahead at the turn. At the 10th he holed from 20 feet for par, and Hidalgo then missed his birdie putt. Chacarra stayed four clear on 20-under.

Another 17-footer fell for birdie at the 11th. He parred the 12th and 13th, then narrowly missed from 13 feet at the 14th, and with four holes to play the man three behind him was Hillier.

Hillier makes it a contest

The New Zealander was 4-over after 13 holes of his first round on Thursday before a second-round 64. He kept improving all week and charged home on the back nine on Sunday, birdieing the 18th to cut what had been a six-shot deficit to two and post 19-under.

Chacarra was in trouble off the tee at the 16th when the pressure arrived. He played a sensational recovery shot and saved par, then parred the 17th and 18th to close out the win.

“It’s great, after all the hard work. I came close in the last couple of weeks and I wanted to get one quickly to get up on the Rankings and I played really good,” he said.

“The last round was tough. It’s really tiring, waking up three days in a row at 4am. My body wasn’t there, I didn’t feel good. It’s hard to have a big lead, you don’t really want to push but you want to with guys making birdies.

“I’m really proud of my short game and how I grinded and stayed patient.”

He came close in each of his previous two starts. He tied for third at the FedEx Open de France, where he cut a five-shot gap to Matt Fitzpatrick to two before the Englishman pulled away, and shared second in Madrid.

What does it mean for the Race to Dubai?

Chacarra arrived in Delhi second in the rankings and leaves first. Reed made the cut on the number this week before a third-round surge lifted him to 6-under.

The Harry Vardon Trophy is now a three-way contest heading into the closing weeks. The top 70 begin the DP World Tour Play-Offs at the Abu Dhabi Championship next month. The season ends at the DP World Tour Championship on the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates from November 12 to 15. Reed is confirmed for Dubai, and Rory McIlroy is chasing a record-equalling eighth European Number One title.

“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. I work really hard and I’ve got a great team surrounding me,” said Chacarra.

An eye on Adare Manor

The Spaniard is also targeting next year’s Ryder Cup at Adare Manor, where Luke Donald will captain Europe from 13 to 19 September 2027, with both Molinari brothers among his vice-captains.

“I told Luke back in the day I want to be in that team by not just a pick,” said Chacarra. “I want to get one of those six spots so that’s one of the goals we have as a team. I’m working really hard for it.

“I just want to keep getting better and keep winning.”

The Spaniard is also targeting next year’s Ryder Cup at Adare Manor, where Luke Donald will captain Europe from 13 to 19 September 2027, with both Molinari brothers among his vice-captains.

Related: What makes a golf course successful? location, design and business potential

Discover what makes a golf course successful, from location and design to revenue diversification, playability, and long-term business potentia

For the latest news in the golfing world, follow us on X.

DP World India Championship Leaderboard