DP World India Championship: Rory McIlroy drops 10 shots off lead as Eugenio Chacarra moves into position for another big win
Saturday's play suspended because of fading light, with most of the field yet to finish their third round; Eugenio Chacarra leads by two strokes from Joost Luiten and Angel Hidalgo in New Delhi; watch conclusion on Sky Sports Golf on Sunday
Saturday 17 October 2026 17:33, UK
Spain's Eugenio Chacarra holds the lead at the DP World India Championship with Rory McIlroy dropping out of contention as the third round was halted by fading light.
Chacarra leads by two strokes on 14 under with most of the field yet to finish their third round.
The Spaniard was four under for his round after 11 holes, having started out in the halfway lead after completing a second-round 67 earlier on Saturday.
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Play will restart at 6.35am local time on Sunday.
Joost Luiten was four under after 12 holes and Angel Hidalgo four under after 11, with both players tied for second place on 12 under par, ahead of Daniel Hillier, Adrian Meronk and Scott Jamieson a further shot back.
Patrick Reed and McIlroy - battling with Chacarra for the season-long Race to Dubai title - were eight and 10 shots off the lead respectively.
Chacarra earned one of the biggest wins of his career in India last year, triumphing at the Hero Indian Open - where he was playing on an invitation - to earn his full status on the European tour.
He had previously been on the LIV Golf circuit.
Chacarra said: "Obviously they're [McIlroy, Reed] the best, one of best two players in the world, so for me to compete with them I need to bring my A-game like I said and I'm trying to do that.
"My team and myself are putting all we can to contend in Dubai. Obviously I need to get points, have some good weeks because those guys, they never rest. It's always going to be a good week for them; they're going to win.
"So I need to like get my momentum going and hopefully I can keep doing that."
McIlroy fades
McIlroy was only four shots off the 36-hole lead after a bogey-free second-round 68 but he slipped out of contention following a dreadful eight-hole stretch in the third round.
Between the third and the 10th, the Northern Irishman - showing off a new look with his Tommy Fleetwood-style baggy pants - made four bogeys and a double that contained a duffed chip from thick rough beside the green.
Holing out from a bunker for eagle at No 14 eased some of McIlroy's misery, but he was still two over for his third round after 15 holes.
McIlroy is seeking an eighth Race to Dubai title as the European tour's No 1 player of the season, which would tie the record of Colin Montgomerie.
Watch continued coverage of the DP World India Championship, live on Sky Sports Golf on Sunday. Get the latest Sky Sports deals or stream with no contract on NOW.
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