Chacarra chasing U.S. Open glory at Pinehurst in first major start

Eugenio Chacarra believes his game is trending in the right direction as he prepares to make his debut major appearance at the 124th U.S. Open this week.

The Spaniard, a member of the LIV Golf League with Fireballs Golf Club, is one of three International Series champions and Asian Tour members in the 156-man field teeing up at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina, along with teammate and compatriot David Puig and Japan’s Takumi Kanaya.

Chacarra, 24, won last year’s St Andrews Bay Championship and has shown glimpses of form this season with a T15 at LIV Golf Hong Kong and a T10 at LIV Golf Singapore.

Chacarra, who won the LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok event in 2022 in only his fifth professional start, is returning to full fitness again after recovering from a long-standing hip problem. He secured one of 11 berths in the U.S. Open qualifier at Dallas Athletic Club in Texas last month, a clear indication that his form and fitness are coming together at just the right time.

“It was a goal I had since I was young to play in a major and when I made a decision to come to LIV Golf, I knew playing majors would be hard to qualify for,” Chacarra said. "Even though I have been playing really well and have two wins already, it is always hard to get into majors, so having the chance to get in one and perform well under pressure was great."

He added: “For the past year and a half I had hip problems, and for the first three events this season I still needed injections, and with the way my body was feeling it was hard to perform. But I have been feeling great for one month now, and I think you can see by the results. My game is getting to where it wants to be because I am healthy again. I still have some mistakes I can clean up, but I can see I perform and compete with the best when I am healthy, and I am healthier."

Chacarra is one of a number of LIV Golf League players to feature regularly on The International Series, using the set of 10 elevated events on the Asian Tour as preparation to supplement their regular season schedule.

Following his U.S. Open debut, his calendar includes the $2 million (U.S.) International Series Morocco in early July, the perfect preparation for LIV Golf Andalucia the following week.

“I’m going to play as much as I can now that I am healthy," Chacarra said. "The Asian Tour is doing a great job of improving and making things better, and with the bigger budgets and players on The International Series, it is great to add these events to my schedule. I am grateful for the opportunities we get.”

Compatriot and fellow Fireballs GC youngster Puig goes into the U.S. Open on the back of some great form.

The Spaniard, who won the International Series Singapore last season, advanced to his second consecutive U.S. Open by shooting a 12-under 132 at the Lake Merced Golf Club final qualifier in Northern California.

The 22-year-old finished an impressive T3 behind Torque GC star Carlos Ortiz, this year’s International Series Oman champion, at LIV Golf Houston last weekend.

He also won the season-opening IRS Prima Malaysian Open and narrowly lost out on a second title after finishing runner-up to current Asian Tour Order of Merit leader John Catlin in a thrilling play-off at International Series Macau presented by Wynn.

A T10 at International Series Oman and fifth-place finish at the Saudi Open presented by PIF have helped Puig to third in the International Series Rankings behind Ortiz and Catlin. Puig also occupies second place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

Japanese golfer Kanaya, last season’s International Series Oman champion, also secured one of 11 spots alongside Chacarra at Dallas Athletic Club.

The U.S. Open, the third major championship of the season, takes place at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina from June 13-16.