Chacarra hoping good International Series run can secure LIV Golf deal

HONG KONG - Highly rated Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra is hopeful a good run of form on The International Series can help him remain on the LIV Golf League, after he underlined his undoubted potential with a sensational eight-under 62 in the third round of the Link Hong Kong Open.

The 24-year-old just made it into the weekend on the cut line and things might have looked bleak when he opened with a bogey.

Three birdies in a row from two, and another on eight had him back on track. A run of four from 12 and another on 17 capped an excellent day.

Chacarra was obviously delighted, but felt things could have been even better. He said: "l knew my game was there, it was just a case of trying not to try too hard, like on the first two days. One shot at a time. It was a good day, and it could have gone so low with this one - I hit a lot of good putts, 11 lipped out and also 16 and 18. It was a good day."

The round left Chacarra at 10 under, seven shots behind clubhouse leader Patrick Reed after the LIV Golf star's sensational 59 later in the day. It was a big lift for the Spaniard, after finishing 39th and in the Open Zone in the season-long standings this season.

Chacarra, who has won before on The International Series with a record-breaking play-off victory over LIV Golf rival Matt Jones at the St Andrews Bay Championship last season, confirmed he is keeping his options open.

Similar performances in the final round will do his chances no harm.

After the final round in Hong Kong, he goes on to play International Series Qatar and the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers in the next two weeks, the remaining tournaments that will settle the rankings race, giving the champion a spot on the LIV Golf League and opening up 32 spots on the LIV Golf Promotions event.

Chacarra managed a T10 in Singapore and a T12 in Andalucia among a handful of impressive performances for Sergio Garcia's team this season. The former Oklahoma State player is confident he will be back to his best next season, now he has overcome the painful hip injury that has been troubling him since leaving college.

He said: "I played the first five events this season in pain, and it was hard for me to compete, which was a downer for me - competing against the best in the world injured is very difficult. But after that I have been playing quite solid and everyone out there knows me, and knows I am a solid player and when my putts go in, I go low.

“I think I am a trustful guy and had six good tournaments out of the 13 we play, with five affected by injury. But that's golf, it shows how hard the competition is and how hard LIV Golf is when you are playing some of the best players in the world. “

Chacarra wouldn’t rule out a run on the Asian Tour and The International Series if he doesn’t play on the LIV Golf League in 2025. He said: “I'm happy with the way my game is trending, I'm still only 24 and I know I'll get up there again, whether here (on The International Series and Asian Tour) or LIV Golf or the PGA Tour. It has been a struggle for two years but now I can play again I can compete as much as possible.

“I am grateful it is back to normal; I can now get back in shape and get my game in shape and I'm excited for sure because I love the game of golf and I love to practice and get better and now it is about getting better every day."

For more information on The International Series, please visit: www.internationalseries.com.