Eugenio Chacarra overcame a broken toe, a gruelling 25-hole final day and a determined challenge from Daniel Hillier to win the DP World India Championship at Delhi Golf Club on Sunday.
The Spaniard closed with a two-under 70 to finish at 21-under 267, two strokes ahead of New Zealand’s Hillier. His third DP World Tour victory of a remarkable 2026 season also carried him to the top of the Race to Dubai Rankings.
While Chacarra left Delhi with the Lotus Trophy, Saptak Talwar secured a career-changing prize of his own. The 27-year-old became the 2026 DP World PGTI Order of Merit champion, earning playing rights on the DP World Tour for the new season beginning in late November.
Anirban Lahiri, meanwhile, produced a bogey-free final round of 68 to finish tied 23rd at eight-under 280 as the leading Indian in the US$4 million championship, co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and DP World PGTI.
Chacarra survives marathon Sunday
Chacarra began the day with seven holes of his weather-delayed third round still to complete. Despite playing with a broken toe, he covered that stretch in five-under, making three birdies before closing with an eagle to sign for a 63.
That burst gave him a five-shot advantage heading into the final round, which began shortly afterwards.
Chacarra appeared to be cruising when his lead grew to six, but Hillier transformed the closing stages into a contest. The New Zealander attacked the back nine and reduced the deficit to two, forcing the Spaniard to remain composed until the finish.
Chacarra held firm, completing rounds of 67, 67, 63 and 70. His 72-hole aggregate was only one stroke higher than Tommy Fleetwood’s winning total in the inaugural edition in 2025.
The champion accumulated 24 birdies and an eagle during the week while dropping only five shots, underlining the consistency that has made him the leading player in the Race to Dubai.
Hillier’s closing 67 took him to 19-under, leaving him alone in second place after a spirited but ultimately unsuccessful pursuit.
Talwar completes breakthrough season
Saptak Talwar receives the 2026 DP World PGTI Order of Merit Trophy from Mr. Kapil Dev, President, DP World PGTI
Talwar’s tied-55th finish may have been modest in isolation, but it completed the most significant season of his professional career.
Rounds of 71, 73, 72 and 71 gave him a one-under total of 287 and lifted his season earnings beyond ₹1.02 crore. More importantly, it confirmed his place at the top of the DP World PGTI Order of Merit and secured his promotion to the DP World Tour.
“It’s been a consistent year, and I’ve grown a lot as a golfer,” Talwar said. “Much of that has come from moving between the DP World PGTI and the HotelPlanner Tour.”
The title represented the culmination of a season built on sustained form rather than one exceptional week. Talwar’s experiences competing internationally and across India helped prepare him for the step up that now awaits.
“There are plenty of positives to build on, along with areas I still need to tidy up,” he said. “This is the culmination of a lot of good work throughout the year. I’m very happy my family could be here to share it, especially at a course that means a lot to me.”
Lahiri leads the Indian finish
Anirban Lahiri finished T-23
Lahiri ended the championship on an encouraging note, playing his final 20 holes without a bogey and covering them in six-under.
His closing 68 completed rounds of 70, 73, 69 and 68 as he improved considerably on his result in the inaugural edition.
“I played reasonably well overall, although I hit more loose shots than I would have liked,” Lahiri said. “Playing 20 holes bogey-free in six-under makes me feel better. But it still wasn’t the performance I’d hoped for, and I know I can do much better.”
Yuvraj Sandhu finished tied 34th at five-under 283 following a final-round 68, while Om Prakash Chouhan closed with a 73 to share 42nd place at four-under 284.
The final day ultimately produced two defining outcomes: Chacarra confirmed his place at the head of the DP World Tour’s season-long race, while Talwar earned the opportunity to join him on the circuit.
Photo – DPWIC
