Long before the galleries lined the fairways of Delhi Golf Club and before the grueling final-day marathon began, Eugenio Chacarra would have reached into his pocket. There, he would have found a small, worn piece of metal, the same ball marker his grandfather, Francisco, had given him when he was 12. He carries it with him everywhere, saving the original for the events that matter most to him. In the capital city of India earlier today, that ball marker would have felt special, but also heavier.

This was Chacarra’s second win in India, having claimed the Hero Indian Open in 2025 on a sponsor’s invite. But on Sunday, as he lifted the DP World Tour India Championship trophy, his thoughts were with the one person he wished could have been there to witness it, but whom he missed the most.

Francisco, who introduced Chacarra to golf, passed away 10 days before the event began. A teary-eyed Chacarra, after the final putt, said, “He is watching me somewhere from up there.”

Chacarra arrived in Delhi in excellent form, having finished third in France and runner-up in Spain. Yet, despite his recent success, anything short of a victory would have felt like a missed opportunity. After lifting the trophy in Delhi, he opened up about his emotions, crediting his late grandfather for helping him get over the line.

“Yeah, I knew he was going to push me and help me these couple of weeks. I didn’t get it done the 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, as I said, I dedicate it to him. He’s been very important in my path in golf,” he said to the press.

For context, Chacarra finished third at the FedEx Open de France and tied for second at the Open España in Madrid, one shot behind Grant Forrest. Delhi became his 4th win on the DP World Tour in 58 starts. But it was far from easy.

Rain and lightning on the opening day left the field with a backlog, and Chacarra had to play 25 holes on Sunday. He finished his third round with a bogey-free 63 that included an eagle at the last. He then went out for the final round with a five-shot lead and stretched it to six with two birdies in his first three holes.

The back nine, however, was a real fight. Chacarra said he had woken up at 3:45 a.m. three days in a row, and the heat and humidity wore him down. He also played through a fractured toe from a nighttime collision with a sofa at home and a stiff neck.

Given the challenges, he leaned on his short game and three crucial putts on the 9th, 10th, and 11th to keep his round together. His competitor was Daniel Hillier, who birdied the eighth to cut the gap to about four. But a wedge to four feet at the 16th settled things. Chacarra closed with three straight pars for a 70 to finish at 21 under, two shots clear of Hillier.

The win made him the first Spanish champion of this event. It also took him to the top of the Race to Dubai, ahead of Patrick Reed, who had led for much of the season.

Chacarra’s grandfather would have been proud of how his grandson overcame the odds to win in India for a second time. Francisco was instrumental in introducing him to golf, picking him up from school and taking him to practice once or twice a week while his parents worked. Those afternoons together helped spark a passion that would eventually shape Chacarra’s career.

“He had a great life,” Chacarra continued about his granddad. “We were all very thankful for growing up with him. He helped me a lot in everything he could. Yeah, it was very impactful for me. My parents worked so he would pick us up from school, take us to golf practice, and always be happy.”

Family is clearly at the center of his world. When he won the KLM Open in June, he shared a long hug with his father on the course. Moreover, when his younger sister Carolina won the Hulencourt Women’s Open on the Ladies European Tour, he was the first one to congratulate and cheer for her. When asked about his dream foursomes, he once picked Spanish legend Seve Ballesteros, his dad, and his sister.

From a rebuild to the race to Dubai lead

Chacarra’s 2026 season marks a significant improvement on his position a year ago. After three seasons on the LIV Golf circuit, he admitted he had lost motivation and decided to rebuild his career on the DP World Tour, initially playing on sponsor invitations. The turning point came in 2025, when he won the Hero Indian Open on an invitation, securing his full tour card.

He finished the season 36th in the Race to Dubai standings and tied for 26th at this event at Delhi Golf Club, falling short of the top-10 finish required to earn a PGA Tour card.

The 2026 season has seen Chacarra become a regular contender. After finishing runner-up at the Hero Indian Open in March, he won the KLM Open in June and followed it with a five-shot victory at the Italian Open three weeks later.

His fourth DP World Tour title in just 58 starts brings him closer to his goal of earning a PGA Tour card and playing on both tours. He is also hoping to make his Masters debut and has told European captain Luke Donald that he wants to earn a place on the Ryder Cup team.

Next, Chacarra heads to Korea for the Genesis Championship, leading the Race to Dubai standings with Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed close behind. But after his latest victory, he made one thing clear. This win belonged to his grandfather.