Eugenio Chacarra started his bid for a second title in India in fine style with an opening 67 on a storm-affected day at the DP World India Championship.
Related: Global and home ambitions meet at DGC
The Spaniard, who claimed the Hero Indian Open title last season, has already won twice in 2026 and sits in second place in the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World, as he aims to chase down Patrick Reed as the season comes to a dramatic close.
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Chacarra was in a four-way tie at the top of the leaderboard before Dane Niklas Nørgaard birdied the last to edge into a one-shot lead after almost five hours of play was lost due to the weather delay at Delhi Golf Club.
Nørgaard carded a 66 to get to six under and lead by one shot from Chacarra, Belgian Thomas Detry and Northern Ireland’s Tom McKibbin.
Six-time Major winner Rory McIlroy carded an opening 70, while Race to Dubai leader Reed and Casey Jarvis – another contender who could still lift the Harry Vardon trophy – were yet to complete their rounds, with 12 players unable to tee off in round one due to the delay.
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Of those who did complete 18 holes, however, it was Nørgaard who continued his recent run of fine form in the Indian capital.
The Dane was in danger of losing his card in late August but finished second at the Husqvarna British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo and another runner-up finish at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship now has him heading for the DP World Tour Play-Offs.
Starting on the tenth, Nørgaard took advantage of the par-five 14th and then put an approach to six feet on the next before giving the shot straight back.
A birdie on the par-five 18th was then followed by a spectacular eagle on the first as he put his second to five feet.
A smart approach on the sixth was followed by a three-putt on the seventh but he made it five under for the day on the par fives at the eighth before holing a 35-footer on the ninth.
Chacarra made a fast start from the tenth with birdies on his opening hole, the 11th, 14th and 15th.
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He bounced back from a bogey on the 16th with a gain on the next and added birdies on the second and eighth before dropping a shot on the ninth.
Also starting on the tenth, McKibbin rattled off four birdies in a row from the 12th and had a single dropped shot in his 71, while Detry overcame a double-bogey on the 15th and blemish on the sixth with eight birdies.
There was a trio of Scots in Ewen Ferguson, Scott Jamieson and Robert MacIntyre at four under alongside local favourite Om Prakash Chouhan and England’s Marcus Armitage.
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Pole Adrian Meronk was four under after five holes to also sit in that group, one clear of England’s Brandon Robinson Thompson and Swede Hugo Townsend who had both finished their rounds.
Player quotes
Niklas Nørgaard: I’m very, very happy. Bit surprised as well. This should not suit me at all. It pretty much just neutralizes my best weapon, which is my driver. But I just managed to make no big mistakes, put the irons in play, and putt pretty well.
Had a tough year until then, and it’s just I think what happened at the Belfry made me regain my confidence. I didn’t think that I’ve been playing that bad but I just needed something to spark it and that’s what Belfry did; been playing good since.
Just a 5-iron off the tee (on the first) which is weird on the par-5, right? And then 2-iron up to four feet and there you go. I have an eagle contest this year with Jakob Skov Olesen; brought me two ahead, so I’m pleased.
Eugenio Chacarra: Need to play here more often I guess. Yeah, just love the greens. I can see the breaks better than in other places. I know the lie and what it is.
I’ve been having good green readings and good putts made when I play here, and today was kind of the same.
It’s a goal that I have on my team now, you know, try to make a push in the last four events to try to win it (the Race to Dubai). Obviously I got two guys – one behind, one in front.
They’re world class players and the best players in the world, Rory and Patrick, so it’s not going to be easy. I need to play my A game and see where that takes me.
I’m excited for the challenge, and like I said, I’m playing good, I’m feeling good, so hopefully I can make a good run of it.
I had a good finish last week in my home event, and, yeah, good start of the week today. Yeah, good momentum. Like I said, I’m feeling good, mentally fresh, and excited for what’s ahead.
