Former LIV Golf winner Eugenio Chacarra turns the page.
The 24-year-old Chacarra, whose contract with Fireballs GC was not renewed for next season, opted not to participate in the LIV Promotions event last month. recently told Flushing It Golf that he was frustrated by LIV’s inability to secure world ranking points or entry into the major championships, and that his new goal is to earn his PGA Tour card.
“When I joined LIV, they promised OWGR [points] and majors,” Chacarra said. “But it didn’t happen. I trusted them.”
Chacarra, a fiery flusher from Madrid, signed with LIV in June 2022 as the world’s second-ranked amateur, leaving behind a fifth season at Oklahoma State, winning in just his fifth start on the Saudi-backed circuit in Bangkok. Although he failed to crack the top 30 in individual points over the past two seasons with LIV and was not signed by another team in the off-season, he has had some success on the Asian Tour with five top-6 finishes places since turning pro, including a win at last year’s St. Andrews Bay Championship. He made his big debut at the US Open last summer after making it through the final qualifying stage.
Chacarra is currently ranked No. 325 in the Official World Golf Ranking, 319 places behind Ludvig Aberg, who turned pro that same summer. Chacarra said that in his eyes there are parallels between their young professional careers; it’s just that Aberg has received more rewards (major waivers, including last year’s Ryder Cup berth) and more attention.
“At LIV, I’m the only young man who won, and they never talk about me,” Chacarra added. “They always talk about the same guys.”
Meanwhile, LIV withdrew its bid for OWGR recognition last March after previously being rejected. It also reduced the number of tickets available through the qualifying tournament to just one and didn’t even promote the top player from the Asian Tour’s International Series as Joaquin Niemann won the season-ending Saudi International to top the points race.
“I see what it’s like to win on the PGA Tour and how it changes your life, how you gain important access and ranking points,” Chacarra explained in his interview with Flushing It. “Nothing changes on LIV; there is only money. It doesn’t matter if you finish 30th or first, just money. I’m not someone who wants more money. What will change my life is playing in Hawaii and qualifying for the Majors, qualifying for the Masters and the Ryder Cup.”
The Spanish outlet El Periodi Golf also spoke with Chacarra, who reportedly earned nearly $30 million in his three seasons at LIV. Chacarra said in that interview that he “wasn’t completely happy.”
“It has nothing to do with the team or the teammates, it was a matter of motivation,” Chacarra said. “I wanted to play majors, play more. Ultimately, 14 weeks a year is not enough for me.”
Although he never held PGA Tour status, Chacarra is suspended from Tour-sanctioned competition until September 23. His suspension would expire before the first phase of the PGA Tour Q-School begins (Chacarra would have to be cleared via pre-qualifying because he took a DP World Tour cut last year).
In the meantime, Chacarra will compete in Asia as she seeks sponsorship exemptions for the DP World Tour.
“I’m very grateful for what they did,” Chacarra added about LIV, “but my thoughts are different now and I want to achieve what I dreamed of when I was little. Because LIV clearly didn’t exist when I was growing up. I saw Tiger Woods win on the PGA Tour and I want to do that too.”
