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Eugenio Chacarra overcame family heartbreak to win $4M event and punish Rory McIlroy

Eugenio Chacarra played through the heartache of a family bereavement as he battled to victory at the DP World India Championship, giving him the upper hand in the Race to Dubai

Eugenio Chacarra holds the DP World India Championship trophy

Eugenio Chacarra played with a heavy heart as he won the DP World India Championship(Image: Luke Walker/Getty Images)

Eugenio Chacarra dedicated his DP World India Championship victory to his late grandfather, who died earlier this month.

The Spaniard continued his sensational season by outplaying a star-studded field at Delhi Golf Club, collecting his third victory of the year to put him in pole position ahead of Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy in the Race to Dubai.

And the 26-year-old said his performance was inspired by the loss of his grandfather, Francisco, whose death came as a shock to the family. Chacarra said his grandfather had a big impact on the lives and careers of him and his sister, Carolina, who is also a pro golfer, and that showed in his performance this week.

"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 everything he could," Chacarra said in his winner's press conference.

"It was very impactful to me. My parents worked, so he would pick us up from school and take us to golf practice, and he was always happy.

"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 this trophy is dedicated to him. He's been very important in my path in golf."

Eugenio Chacarra celebrates victory

Chacarra finished at 21 under par, winning by two shots from Daniel Hillier

Chacarra has been in tremendous form on the DP World Tour in recent weeks, finishing third at the French Open before a second-place finish on home soil at the Spanish Open.

Those results have propelled him to the top of the Race to Dubai standings, combined with Reed suffering a shoulder injury and a loss of form. McIlroy, meanwhile, had a disappointing week in New Delhi, finishing T42.

Chacarra he could extend his advantage at next week's Genesis Championship in South Korea, with McIlroy and Reed not playing.

There is the added incentive of becoming only the third Spaniard after Jon Rahm and Seve Ballesteros to win the DP World Tour's season-long title.

But Chacarra is taking nothing for granted with three events to play. "I'm just excited for what's ahead," he said. "Right now I need to think of next week in Korea. I think Rory and Patrick are not playing.

"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 Rory's record is in Dubai.

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

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