DP WORLD INDIA CHAMPIONSHIP

October 18, 2026

Eugenio Chacarra

Delhi GC

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Okay, first of all, Eugenio, many congratulations. You've now lifted the DP World India Championship trophy and now you're a two-time winner in India.

How does that feel.

EUGENIO CHACARRA: Yeah, feels great. It's a country that's been awesome to me. Changed my life back in couple years ago at the Hero at DLF and obviously did it again here.

Super proud of the win. Always love coming back to India. Love the people, love the food, loves the greens, and the golf courses.

Yeah, I'm excited to come back next year.

THE MODERATOR: And in terms of the overall season, this one has taken you to the top of the Race to Dubai rankings. How does that feel after three wins and some incredible performances this season?

EUGENIO CHACARRA: Yeah, it feels great. Obviously there is a lot left. There is two big events with a lot of points and I got two of the best players in the world coming against me now, Rory and Patrick, behind me fairly close.

I need to keep working and getting better and hopefully I can get it done in Dubai.

THE MODERATOR: We'll open up for questions.

Q. Congratulations. Round about two years ago now you would've been sort of looking forward to LIV and (indiscernible) having you back. Did you think at that point that all of this that you achieved would've been possible? And obviously the role that India has played in getting you to this point, earning your status at DLF last year and then this great victory.

EUGENIO CHACARRA: Well, I decided to not go back. I had chances to go back. I had chance to go to Q-School. Me and my team thought it was not the best for me where I wanted to be. I lost motivations back in the day and we went towards the other path.

Yep, I believe in myself. I know what I'm capable of. I was No. 1 -- No. 2 amateur in the world and you could say No. 1. I was the best player in (indiscernible) golf, and I was also a good amateur player.

So I believe that I could be one of the best players in the world professional-wise, and that's why I work hard every single day.

For me the last thing you need is belief in yourself, and obviously wasn't easy, but that motivate me more to work hard every day to achieve great things.

Yeah, we got four wins already on the DP World Tour in less than two years.

Q. Do you discuss your -- you mentioned about your grandfather in the presentation. Wondering if you could share the impact he had on your life and career.

EUGENIO CHACARRA: Yeah, it was unexpected what happened but that's life. He had a great life. We were all very thankful for growing up with him. He helped me a lot in in everything he could.

Yeah, it was very impactful for me. My parents worked so he would pick us from school and take us to golf practice, and always happy. Yeah, I knew he was going to push me and help me these couple weeks. I didn't get it done last two weeks in France and Spain, but he definitely helped me today.

I didn't have my best out there, so, yeah, this trophy, like I said, I dedicated to him. He's been very important in my path in golf.

Q. You've been such a fantastic ambassador for Spanish golf. At a very young age, 21, 22, that really takes a very important position. You decided to go to a tour which wasn't really maybe one of the best things to happen at that time also. But then you took an even bigger decision to (indiscernible) rebuild your career. How hard has it been and what would it mean for you to suddenly line up at big events like The Open, as you did this year, the Masters, all the big ambitions you had as a college golfer?

EUGENIO CHACARRA: Yeah, when I left LIV I wanted to be in majors, be in Ryder Cups, win tournaments on the DP World Tour, be on the PGA Tour. That's what I dream of since I was little.

Obviously when I grew up LIV wasn't in exist, but when LIV came up, as one of the best amateurs in the world they offered me something that I couldn't say no. I'm very thankful for that. My time there was great.

It helped a lot things for my career. I can have a great team surrounding me thank you to LIV. I can have travel a little better. I can go to nicer hotels. I can give my family and my future family a great life.

So I'm always grateful to LIV. Nothing bad to say. My time was done. Decided with my team and family that the next step was ready for me.

Like I said, I believe in myself. I believe I can be one of the best players in the world, and that's what I wake up every single morning dreaming, of being one of the best players in the world, and like you said contending in majors.

Hopefully this move me up pretty good on the ranking and I could be confirmed for the next year four majors. It will be my first Masters and I had lucky now that I played the other three. Last year was my first Open. I enjoyed every single moment of it. I played four days, and I think I can, with my game, keep working hard to be contending in those tournaments in a couple years or next year.

Q. One small question: Have you booked a business class or first class ticket this time?

EUGENIO CHACARRA: (Laughter.) Yeah, not sure. I got all the logistics guys. Like I said, I travel with a big team. We fly to Korea tonight. I don't know, whatever -- I'm happy with whatever. I'm a very chill guy. I love being with my family, with my team, and if I'm in economy, great. If I'm in business, great.

I'm just grateful to be alive and enjoy this life.

Q. Just a couple of fact checks before I ask my question. Can you tell us your grandfather's name?

EUGENIO CHACARRA: Yeah, Francisco Coto.

Q. During the prize presentation, is Alan still (indiscernible)...

EUGENIO CHACARRA: Well, I mean, I still live in Oklahoma. I got all my family there, my people there, and I go there every single Monday. On Donnie Darr and Alan Bratton, they're assistant head coach, still the people that work with me, people that teach me a lot to be where I am.

So I go there every Monday. I got my coach, Davis, right now that's my swing coach and my daily coach, but we all -- every time we go there we tell them to see me and see what they think because their advice is great.

They create me as a golfer and I improve very much because of them. So it's a program that I'm forever grateful. That's why I play with them on Sundays and something that I want to keep doing for the rest of my career.

Q. And are you in touch with Rayhan still?

EUGENIO CHACARRA: Yeah, yeah. He stills lives in Stillwater. We live 45 minutes away. We play -- he's a great guy, great friend of mine. I think he's developed me as a player. He had a decent year on the Korn Ferry Tour.

Yeah, he works really hard. His game is getting better every year and I think he's going to give a lot of great things to India golf for sure.

Q. Final question: India and your connection, everyone has spoken about. What do you find golf and Spanish food and culture -- (regarding naan and chicken) put together. But what do you find in common?

EUGENIO CHACARRA: Here? I think we're -- people here are super nice, like in Spain. Everyone welcomes you very nice. They're all super -- always wanting to help. Like I said, I enjoy my time here. I also love the food. I'm a big chicken butter with naan guy. I think I had it seven times this week. That can tell you how much I love it.

I love everything. I love the golf courses. I love the type of grass. I can see the breaks better than other courses. Yeah, I enjoy my time here.

And just not in golf; outside the golf world it's unique. Yeah, I'm very proud and grateful that I come here. Like I said, every time I get a chance to come back, I will be here.

Q. Congratulations on the second time here doing this with you in the last four and a half years, to see this progress. On your back nine today you really had to scramble. Tell us about it. Was exhaustion a factor? You really looked like you were...

EUGENIO CHACARRA: Yeah, it was.

Q. It looked tough.

EUGENIO CHACARRA: Yeah, it was terrible. I woke up the last three days 3:45 a.m. They've been long days. It's hot. It's humid. I've been fighting myself today, and that's not normal. It's not something that I'm used to. I'm normally a very good ball-striker.

But just the fight, you know, like I rely on my short game, and all the hard work I've been putting in in my putting and chipping, it pay off.

It's just nice to see that you can win not having your best. Winning against the best players in the world, you know, it's a very big field. We got Rory, No. 2 player in the world, Tommy, Patrick Reed, Luke Donald, Shane Lowry, probably the best field of the year with Wentworth this week.

So just to prove the world that I can beat all these guys and I can compete not even having my A-game is something that gives me a lot of motivation to keep working. Because we're doing the right thing, and I can keep continue development as a player.

Q. How important were those three par putts?

EUGENIO CHACARRA: Yeah, I think nine, ten, 11 there were three huge putts. Two of them for par and one for birdie.

Then 16 I had a great wedge. I mean, I hit it to four feet. When I made that one and hit the green on 17, I knew it was closer.

But it course you never know. You're one bad swing away of making a big number, so you need to keep patient.

I think we did.

Like I said, I didn't have my A-game but really proud of how I fighted and how I played down the stretch.

Q. Congratulations. You mentioned in the presentation about a broken toe. Of course the trouble with your neck, we've read about it. Can you tell us a little bit more about how you went about this whole week with those issues?

EUGENIO CHACARRA: Yeah, to be fair, the toe issue was more last week. I broke it like 15 days ago back home. Woke up to get some water middle of the night and didn't see the corner of the sofa and broke it. Last week was really tough, but doing all the ice and taking all the medications was better.

I still notice because 25, 30 holes day like we did is not easy on the toe.

But my neck is just a bad position at night on Monday. Kind of like for eight hours that you're sleeping in a bad position. It got really tense and I didn't -- I wasn't sure if it I was going to be able to tee it off on Wednesday.

So great job, like I said, my physio did. We did tremendous work every time we had a chance to treat it. Yeah, he gave me a chance to compete. Obviously not at the 100, but we figure out way to compete.

Like playing with my B Game and not feeling the best, to be able to win against this kind of field is something that gives me a lot of motivation to keep working so we can win bigger and bigger events in the future.

Q. Congratulations. I wanted to know that we had an amazing field this week and there were major winners here as well. What did you do well at the Delhi Golf Club that had you stay consistent throughout the course from the first day to the last putt? What helped you?

EUGENIO CHACARRA: Yeah, I just think we had a great game plan of the course. You know, we did a good job on the practice rounds and we stick to it. I was really good on the greens. I was really good with my wedge approach.

Yeah, obviously you can win without doing a lot of stuff good, so there is a lot of good. I think, yes, today's run was just priceless. I didn't really miss a shot. I putted good. Chipped it good. That helped me having that big lead to get it done today.

But, yeah, it's a course that suit me. You need to be a ball-striker. You need to hit it on the fairway. I like those type of courses.

Q. Speaking about your grandfather earlier, he's from the same home town as Seve. Did you feel there is a bit of Seve in you and do you feel?

EUGENIO CHACARRA: Actually my grandfather wasn't. The one is on my mom -- the other side of the family. He's from Malaga and Madrid. Yeah, obviously my dad is from that side, like you said, from Seve's country.

Like I said, I grew up going to his camps, playing his small events in the summer. Obviously trying to put my name in his trophies is something that we dream of. I got it done this year in Italian, so, yeah, just tried to keep working and keep putting my name on the game of golf.

Q. Many congratulations. I want to talk about your searching for a PGA Tour card next year. Third Spanish after Seve and Rahm to finish European No. 1. You thoughts on that? Does that put sort of pressure that you sort of think about and how does it affect the way you play tournaments going forward.

EUGENIO CHACARRA: No, I mean, obviously the goal of get my PGA Tour card was done since the I won Italy, so that's a really good thing to get pressure out of my way.

Like I said, I want to play on the DP World Tour too. It's a fantastic tour. I enjoyed my time here. European Tour are doing a tremendous job with the fields, best courses, how they treat us and make every week. It's so important.

So, yeah, I want to be in both tours. I want to play some on the PGA Tour because there is a lot of best players out there and I want to prove that I can still beat them, too.

But, yeah, I'm just excited for what's ahead. Right now I need to think of next week in Korea. I think Rory and Patrick are not playing, so if I can have another good week I can get ahead because I need it obviously. They're two of the best players in the world and we know what's Rory's record in Dubai.

So I need to play as good as possible the next couple weeks, and hopefully I can keep playing good, keep doing good, and I can put my name with Jon's and Seve's, that would be a dream come true.

Q. I think you very well know both the guys, because I think you have actually spoken with (indiscernible.) You understood it. Last year as well.

EUGENIO CHACARRA: I didn't know that, but I guess I like how he designed the golf course because I know he also designed Nedbank, and I love the golf course out there. Yeah, he does a good job.

This course is not long but it's tricky and you need to shape the ball both ways. You need to be aggressive. You need to know when to be aggressive and when to not. You need to know where to be in the right spot on the green.

Yeah, I love how he designs golf courses and I'm happy to switch my game because he's done a lot of golf courses over the world.

Q. (No microphone.) And two titles and this is a third one. How did you see and look back on what has been for you?

EUGENIO CHACARRA: Yeah, obviously good results are great, but this just give me more motivation to keep working hard. That makes you know that you're doing the right things. So I'm excited to keep doing it and see where that takes me.

It's been a tremendous season. It's been more than I could ever imagine. Like I said, I'm excited to get it, to celebrate tonight and get tomorrow a little rest and get Tuesday in Korea and try to do it again.

Q. Congratulations. Quick golfing question: You have a very, very disciplined but very short pre-shot routine, which apparently very good for handling pressure. Is it something you worked on or something which has been...

EUGENIO CHACARRA: Yeah, I just think I don't understand people that takes too long. You get the distance and you talk the shot and then I try to execute. I love playing the way I do. I think it's just not a thing of pressure. It's just a thing of like, okay, we talk about a shot, we know the shot, and then I try to do it.

If I don't do it I need to go work on my game. I don't believe that taking more time is going to make you make a better swing. I have never done it. I've been a little -- I'm a fast player for sure from tee to green, but a little slower on the greens. I think I make my time every time. That's a thing you need to do. Yes, I love the way I play and I think I'm going continue doing it.

THE MODERATOR: Last question up here. Thank you.

Q. Yeah, on the seventh hole you putted for par and you celebrated with your pumped fist. Was it a difficult putt because we saw it a very short distance?

EUGENIO CHACARRA: It was difficult because I came from making a bogey on 6 with a big lip-out like you guys probably saw. It was a hole that I hit the green and the other two guys were close. Danny Hillier made a birdie on eight and he was almost like four back, and I had a three-footer downhill right-to-left that I didn't know was going to break or not.

So it's just a putt that I made that I normally struggle with in the past, and it just give me some motivation to keep pushing and keep going.

THE MODERATOR: Okay, thank you very much everyone.

EUGENIO CHACARRA: Thank you. (Applause.)