Chacarra battles broken toe to share Open de España lead
Eugenio Chacarra. Picture: Getty Images
Spain’s Eugenio Chacarra battled a broken toe to fire a five-under 66 and share the lead in the Open de España in Madrid.
The former LIV star made two eagle threes and four birdies at the Club de Campo despite breaking the third toe on his left foot by stubbing in the dark last week.
It remains to be seen whether he can complete the tournament, but his opening round was good enough to share the lead with Scottish duo Connor Syme and Grant Forrest, one clear of Sergio Garcia, Angel Ayora, Kiwi Dan Hillier and Dane Jacob Skov Olesen
“It doesn't really hurt when I'm swinging, which is why I could make a score” said Chacarra, who lies third in the Race to Dubai as he closes in on a PGA Tour card and battles for a potential Ryder Cup debut next year.
“Yes, I made it today, but the pain I had in the last two holes walking is something that I don't know if it's worth it because I‘ve got a lot to play in the next couple of weeks.
“I’ll sit down with the team and see what we decide because it was tough. If it was another event, I wouldn’t be teeing it up this week.”
Chacarra was playing alongside Shane Lowry, whose one-under 70 left him tied for 21st.
A 72 left Tom McKibbin and Justin Rose joint 48th as defending champion Marco Penge struggled to a 73, leaving him alongside Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed.
On the PGA Tour, Jacob Bridgeman opened with an eight-under 63 to take the lead in the Baycurrent Classic in Japan.
After rolling in the winning putt for the USA in the Presidents Cup, Bridgeman went bogey-free to lead by a shot from England’s Jordan Smith.
It was also a good day in Asia for Lauren Walsh in the Ladies European Tour’s Aramco Korea Championship.
The Castlewarden golfer fired a two-under 70 at New Korea Country Club to share 16th place. She was five shots behind Czechia’s Patricie Mackova, who shot a seven-under 65 to lead by two .
Douglas’ Sara Byrne and Elm Park’s Anna Foster were joint 41st after 72s, but Aine Donegan was second last in the 108-strong field after an 80.
On the HotelPlanner Tour, Liam Nolan kept his hopes of back-to-back wins alive when he opened with a five-under 67 in the Hainan Open in China
Last week’s winner in Abu Dhabi, the Barna man (26) made six birdies to share seventh place, five strokes behind Spain’s Joseba Torres, while West Waterford’s Gary Hurley was joint 28th after a 69.
Meanwhile, Killarney Golf & Fishing Club has begun a multi-year upgrade of Mahony’s Point.
All bunkers and teeing areas will be redesigned and rebuilt by architect Jeff Lynch of ReGolf and Atlantic Golf Construction.
Work on Phase One, which started this week, will be completed by April 2027. Phase Two will begin in October 2027, and all 18 holes will have been fully upgraded by April 2028.
