Coming into the DP World India Championship, the spotlight was firmly on Eugenio Chacarra, Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed. The three golfers arrived in New Delhi with plenty at stake, locked in a battle for crucial points in the Race to Dubai, the season-long contest to crown the DP World Tour’s leading player.

McIlroy, one of the modern greats of the game, drew the crowds to the Delhi Golf Club (DGC). Reed, the 2018 Masters champion, brought his own share of intrigue. But as the tournament unfolded, the narrative took a turn. The attention gradually shifted to Chacarra, the 26-year-old Spaniard who turned a demanding week into a statement of intent.

By the time the final putt dropped, there was little doubt about who had been the player of the tournament.

Chacarra was a class apart, negotiating the DGC’s unforgiving layout with remarkable composure. The tight fairways and thick, overgrown rough offered little margin for error, testing both precision and patience. Yet the Spaniard seemed to find a way through, combining sound course management with the resilience required to survive a punishing week.

The challenge extended well beyond the course itself. Heavy rain disrupted the opening round, leaving the field scrambling to make up lost ground. The result was a gruelling schedule that demanded long hours and sustained concentration, with players often required to complete 25 to 30 holes in a day.

Chacarra faced that relentless workload with a broken toe adding to his discomfort. It was a test of endurance as much as golfing ability, but he refused to let the physical strain derail his campaign.

Having established a clear lead by the end of the third round, Chacarra approached the final day with the composure of an experienced pro. There were no unnecessary risks, no dramatic swings in momentum. A steady two-under-par 70 on Sunday was enough to seal his fourth DP World Tour title.

The victory carried significance beyond the trophy. It propelled Chacarra to the top of the Race to Dubai standings, placing him firmly in contention with only three tournaments remaining.

For McIlroy, meanwhile, the week ended in disappointment. The Northern Irishman’s performances over the final two rounds failed to match the anticipation surrounding his appearance. Rounds of 72 and 74 saw him slide down the leaderboard to a tied-42 — a costly result. Reed’s campaign followed a different trajectory. A three-over 75 in the opening round left the American with considerable ground to recover. He responded admirably, however, producing rounds of 69, 67 and 69 to climb back into contention, eventually finishing tied-23.

It was a creditable recovery, though not enough to make a decisive impact on the Race to Dubai standings. Reed and McIlroy, second and third respectively, still have time to mount a challenge, but the momentum now belongs to Chacarra. After the triumph, an exhausted, emotional Chacarra spoke on the significance of this victory and more.. Excerpts:

You are the winner of the DP World India Championship. How good does that sound?

It’s great. All the hard work.. I wanted to win to get up in the rankings. The last round was tough. It was really tiring waking up three days in a row at 4 a.m. My body wasn’t there. I didn’t feel good. It is hard to go in with a big lead. You don’t really want to push, but with guys making birdies, you have to. It was a new experience, and I am really proud of my short game, the grind and how I stayed patient.

In a world-class field which had Ryder Cup stars, former World No. 1s and Major champions, you finished on top…

Yeah, I told (2027 Ryder Cup captain) Luke (Donald) back in the day I want to be on that (Ryder Cup) team. Not just any pick; I want one of the six spots. That’s one of the goals. We are still a year away, but I know what I’m capable of. I know I’m a good player. I have a lot of charisma, and I want to keep getting better and keep winning.

You’re on top in the Race to Dubai rankings. How special would it be to add your name to the list of Spanish winners, Seve Ballesteros and Jon Rahm?

It would mean the world to me. Those two guys are heroes for me as a Spanish golfer. Seve did everything for European and Spanish golf, and Jon is someone I’ve looked up to since he went to college. Hopefully, I can put my name on that trophy too.

You lifted the Hero Indian Open trophy last year, and now you’re a two-time winner in India.

It feels great to be here. India has been awesome to me. This country changed my life last year when I won at the Hero Indian Open, and it has happened again here. I’m so proud of this win. I always love coming to India. I love the people, the food, the greens, the golf courses... I’m excited to come back next year.

You had to scramble on the back-nine in the final round. Was it tough?

Yes, it was terrible. I woke up the last three days at 3.45 a.m. They’ve been long days. It’s hot and humid. I’ve been fighting myself today, and that’s not normal. I’m normally a very good ball-striker, but I had to fight and rely on my short game. It’s nice to see that you can win when you are not having the best time of it. We had Rory, defending champion Tommy Fleetwood, Reed, Shane Lowry — probably the best field of the year. To beat all these guys without even having my ‘A’ game is something that gives me a lot of motivation.

Did the broken toe trouble you?

I broke my toe 15 days ago back home. I woke up to get some water in the middle of the night, and didn’t see the corner of the sofa and broke it. Last week was really tough, with all the ice and medications. Playing 25-30 holes in a day is not easy with this toe. Also, my neck was in a bad position when I slept. It got really tense and I didn’t know if I was going to be able to tee off. My physio did a great job to help me recover. I was not at a 100%, but we figured out a way to compete.

What helped you stay consistent at the Delhi Golf Club this week?

We had a great game plan. We did a good job on the practice rounds, and we stuck to it. I was really good on the greens, and with my wedge approach. Today’s run (third and fourth round) was just priceless. I didn’t really miss a shot. I putted and chipped well. That helped me get a big lead after the third round. This course suited me. You need to hit it on the fairway. I like these type of courses.

You had mentioned your grandfather, who passed away recently. Could you share the impact he had on your life and career.

His demise was unexpected, but he had a great life. He helped me a lot, and he was very impactful for me. My parents worked, so he would pick us up from school and take us to golf practice. I dedicate this trophy to him.

At a very young age, you took the decision to go to LIV Golf. But then you took an even bigger decision to leave LIV Golf and rebuild your career..

When I left LIV, I wanted to play in the Majors, Ryder Cups, win tournaments on the DP World Tour, and be on the PGA Tour. That’s what I dreamt of since I was little. When LIV came up, as one of the best amateurs in the world, they offered me something that I couldn’t say no to. I’m very thankful for that. My time there was great. It helped my career. I have a great team around me, thanks to LIV. I can 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. I have nothing bad to say about LIV, but my time there was done. Hopefully, this win will help me move up the rankings and I can play all four Majors next year.

You have a very disciplined but very short pre-shot routine. Is it something you have worked on?

I just don’t understand people who take too long to hit their shots. You get the distance, and then try to execute. I love playing the way I do. We talk about a shot, we know the shot, and then I try to do it. I don’t believe that taking more time is going to help you make a better swing. I have never done it. I’m a fast player from tee to green, but a little slower on the greens.

What do you find common between Indian and Spanish culture?

The people in India are super nice, like in Spain. Everyone welcomes you, and are always wanting to help. I also love Indian food. I’m a big chicken butter with naan fan. I think I’ve had it seven times this week. That tells you how much I love it. Every time I get a chance to come back to India, I will be here.