Eugenio Chacarra was happy to build momentum in his quest to top the Race to Dubai Rankings delivered by DP World by taking the halfway lead at the 2026 DP World India Championship.
The tournament was heavily delayed by storms in New Delhi during the first round on Thursday, with round two eventually completed on Saturday morning before players prepared for a quick turnaround into round three.
Chacarra led at that stage after, for the second successive round, recording seven birdies and two bogeys for a 67.
The dropped shots even came at the same holes, the ninth and 16th, but Chacarra was pleased with his putting through the rest of the round as he reached 10 under par to lead by one shot from Scotland's Scott Jamieson.
"Yeah, putting was good," the Spaniard said. "Obviously made bogey the same holes twice. I hadn't played very good. But, yeah, something to learn.
"I think my game is good. I'm hitting the ball good. I'm putting good. Attitude is good. So yeah, overall good round."
Chacarra went into this week second in the Race to Dubai Rankings delivered by DP World, just under 166 points behind leader Patrick Reed with Rory McIlroy lurking a further 142 points back in third as the Northern Irishman chases a record-equalling eighth Harry Vardon Trophy.
Chacarra said: "Obviously they're the two of the best players in the world, so for me to compete with them I need to bring my A-game and I'm trying to do that.
"My team and myself are putting in all we can to contend in Dubai. Obviously I need to get points, have some good weeks because those guys, they never rest. It's always going to be a good week for them; they're going to win. So I need to get my momentum going and hopefully I can keep doing that.
"Yeah, for sure. Obviously they're the best [Rory McIlroy & Patrick Reed], one of best two players in the world, so for me to compete with them I need to bring my A-game like I said and I'm trying to do that.
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) October 17, 2026
"My team and myself are putting all we can to contend in Dubai.… pic.twitter.com/520j8PCzdD
"I love winning. I love being in contention on Sunday. Obviously it's nice when you're at the top of Friday, but there is a lot of golf left still. But, yeah, I like where I'm at. I need to control what I can control, and that's my target for the next couple of rounds."
Third place at the halfway stage was shared by Angel Hidalgo, Adrian Meronk, Joost Luiten, Thomas Detry and Joel Girrbach on eight under. McIlroy was firmly in the hunt at six under after a bogey-free 68, with Reed holing a six-foot par putt at the ninth - his final hole - to make the cut right on the line at level par.
Home favourite Yuvraj Sandhu made seven birdies in his final 10 holes to make the weekend at one under, and said: “I’ve only just finished the round, and I’m still trying to understand how I pulled it off. I think seven-under over 10 holes is a personal best."
