Golfer’s Costly Driver Swap Derails Race to Dubai Title Hopes

Race To Dubai leader Eugenio Chacarra was forced into an untimely driver change at the Abu Dhabi Championship after his regular club cracked during Wednesday's Pro-Am.

The 26-year-old Spaniard missed every fairway on the front nine of his opening round at Yas Links.

He still managed to post a 2-under 70, recovering with four birdies on the back nine.

Chacarra had used the same driver since February.

“I’ve been with that driver since February,” Chacarra told Sky Sports.

“I know a lot about that face, I know a lot about the driver. And even though the backups, they say it’s the same, it definitely wasn’t the same.”

The replacement club had a noticeably higher loft.

“I see a little more loft on the club,” Chacarra said.

“It started getting in my head, and I was kind of like hitting across a bit, and I hit zero fairways on the front nine.”

The crack happened on his 60th shot of the week, leaving no time to adjust before the tournament began.

Chacarra is leading the Race To Dubai standings, trying to hold off Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed.

McIlroy is chasing a record-equalling eighth European No.1 finish.

Reed is also in contention for the Harry Vardon Trophy.

Chacarra is trying to become just the third Spaniard to win that trophy.

Playing alongside McIlroy and Reed on Thursday, Chacarra turned his round around on the back nine.

He made six birdies overall, with four of them coming on the homeward nine.

“It was a big fight, you know,” Chacarra said after the round.

“I turned on 1-over; I finished 2-under. I’m happy that I fight it. I’m happy with the fight.”

He added: “And I just need to go do some work on the range to find a driver for tomorrow.”

The wind picked up during the afternoon wave at Yas Links.

Chacarra said the greens deteriorated compared with the morning wave.

“If you miss nine fairways, you’re going to make some bogeys,” he acknowledged.

His only regret was the 17th hole, where he chased a birdie rather than accepting a two-putt from around 30 feet.

Despite the equipment setback, Chacarra’s closest challengers failed to capitalize.

Patrick Reed shot a 74, with a birdie, a bogey and a double on the last.

Reed finished tied for 56th after the first round.

Rory McIlroy thought he had shot a 4-under 68.

But McIlroy was assessed a two-shot penalty after his round for improving his lie on the par-four 12th.

The incident happened on his fourth shot at the 12th.

McIlroy’s initial chip had rolled back down a slope into a divot.

Close-up TV replays showed his wedge pressing grass down behind the ball when he addressed it.

Officials ruled that this improved his lie under Rule 8.1b(4).

The penalty turned his double-bogey six into a quadruple-bogey eight.

His score changed from 68 to 70, leaving him level with Chacarra.

Chacarra defended McIlroy after the penalty.

“I don’t think he improves his lie,” Chacarra told Sky Sports.

“Obviously, the referee and him thought different.”

Chacarra added: “In the video, it doesn’t look great, but we’ve been watching Rory for a long time — he’s a class man and never tries to improve his lies or do anything.”

“Obviously with this grass in the middle, it’s a fluffy grass, so as soon as you put the weight of the club, the grass is going to come down,” Chacarra said.

“How is he supposed to hit that shot? I just need to learn. I think it’s 50/50.”

Chacarra said he told McIlroy he was “happy to fight for it” because he did not think McIlroy improved the lie.

McIlroy accepted the penalty while insisting it was not deliberate.

“Obviously there’s no intent — I play by the rules,” McIlroy said after the round.

“I try to do everything that I can to never end up in these positions,” he added.

The Race To Dubai is determined by points accumulated across the DP World Tour season.

The winner receives the Harry Vardon Trophy, awarded to the European No.1.

McIlroy has won the trophy seven times, a record he shares with Colin Montgomerie and Seve Ballesteros.

Chacarra has led the standings for much of the season.

The Abu Dhabi Championship is one of the final events of the DP World Tour schedule.

Yas Links is a links-style course designed by Kyle Phillips.

The course opened in 2021 and has hosted the Abu Dhabi Championship since 2022.

Chacarra turned professional in 2022 after a successful amateur career at Oklahoma State University.

He won his first DP World Tour event at the 2022 LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok.