The world number 50, whose record in Delhi is amazing with one win and two other Top-5 finishes in four starts, won the Hero Indian Open at the DLF Golf and Country Club in 2025 and was runner-up in 2026, besides being T-5 at the International Series in early 2025.
He could become only the second player to win a DP World Tour title on both the DLF and the DGC courses, after SSP Chawrasia did that in 2016 and 2017 with back-to-back wins in the Indian Open.
The Spaniard held a two-shot lead over his compatriot Angel Hidalgo and Dutch Joost Luiten, both of whom are at 12-under. Hidalgo was 4-under through 11 holes in round three while Luiten was 4-under through 12 holes.
Three others, New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier (5-under through 14), Poland’s Adrian Meronk (3-under through 11) and Scotland’s Scott Jamieson (2-under through 11), were at 11-under for the tournament.
Among those who had finished their third round, defending champion England’s Tommy Fleetwood (70-69-68) and Italian Gregoria de Leo (67-74-66) were the best at nine-under, which was five behind Chacarra’s current 14-under.
The top Indian was still Om Prakash Chouhan, carding 71 as he shot par or under for the third straight day. His rounds of 68-72-71 put him at 5-under at T-30 currently. Only 26 of the 77 who had made the cut had finished their third round.
Rory McIlroy had an eagle, a double bogey and four bogeys against just two birdies to be 2-over through 15 holes. His total was 4-under for the tournament and was provisionally T-40.
After two 67s, both of which had seven birdies and two bogeys, Chacarra began at 10-under and immediately picked four birdies in his first seven holes as he began his third round. However, his late tee-off for the third round meant he did not have enough time to finish it and will return at 6.35 am to finish his third round.
Chacarra, who was so far bogey-free in his third round, was 4-under through the 10 holes of his third round and had a total of 14-under.
Interestingly, Chacarra has birdied the Par-5 eighth, Par-4 11th, Par-5 14th and Par-4 15th on both days and the bogeys came on the same holes – the ninth and the 16th. He has birdied the first in the second and third rounds and also birdied the sixth on the second and third days.
Om Prakash Chouhan is the leading Indian after three rounds
Chouhan, who topped the DP World PGTI Order of Merit in 2023 and played the DP World Tour in 2024, was the leading Indian for the third day in succession at the DP World India Championship.
The 40-year-old, who has 11 wins on the domestic Tour and one on the HotelPlanner Tour, has won once this year. Starting with a birdie on the first in the third round, he also closed with a birdie, but had one bogey in between. He had 13 pars in a row from the fifth to the 17th.
Chouhan said, “My body was feeling very tight after playing 36 holes, but I stayed focused on my game. It was a steady round.”
“I’ve played here many times, so I know how to plan my way around the course and where to position the ball. That experience has helped me.”
“I’m not thinking too much about being the leading Indian. I’m concentrating on my own game.”
“After finishing my second round, I went to the training room,” said Chouhan. “I haven’t allowed myself to get distracted. I have one target: to focus on my game, my tee shots and my second shots.”
Earlier in the morning, Yuvraj Sandhu (75-68) produced the most dramatic fightback, making seven birdies in his final 10 holes, including four in the last five, to finish at one-under 143. From being 3-over through the first seven holes in his second round, he picked seven birdies between the ninth and the 18th for a day’s work of 68 and made the cut. He was even through five holes in the third round and at par through 50 holes at T-60.
Anirban Lahiri (70-73) at 1-under through 16 in the third round was T-48.
Shiv Kapur (72-72), and par through 13 in the third round, Karandeep Kochhar (72-72), and par through 12, and Saptak Talwar (71-73), and par through 12 were all T-60.
Earlier in the morning, Chacarra showed his affection for India in no uncertain manner as he moved into a one-shot when the second round finally finished midway through Saturday.
Five of the seven Major winners and six Indians were among those making the cut, which fell at even par at Delhi Golf Club.
Chacarra followed his opening 67 with another three-under 67 to reach 10-under 134, while Scotland’s Scott Jamieson was second at nine-under.
Play was suspended today at 17:44 due to darkness and will restart at 06:35 on Sunday. Round 4 will be a two-tee start and will not start before 09:15.
DP World India Championship is proud to welcome its Title Sponsor DP World; Platinum Sponsors Hero Fincorp, AM Green and Bloomberg; Premium Partners AWS, GMR Aero, Dubai Sports City and HSBC; Official Partners ALDAR, HCL Tech, Omega, Kohler and Emirates; and Official Suppliers Bisleri, Medanta, Nicobar, The Oberoi, House of Glenfiddich, TaylorMade India and Pocari Sweat.
Tickets for the DP World India Championship are on sale here on District.
