Golfer axed by LIV Golf after raking in £11million finally gets PGA Tour place
Former LIV Golf star Eugenio Chacarra will compete on the PGA Tour for the first time at this week's Genesis Scottish Open. Chacarra, 25, will become the first-ever LIV Golf champion to compete in a PGA event.
In 2022, the Madrid-born star chose to depart Oklahoma State and go straight into LIV, where he went on to win LIV Bangkok in only his fifth pro start on the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund-backed rebel tour. However, the next two years proved to be a struggle and he was relegated after the 2024 campaign.
He has since gone on to criticise LIV, while also pledging to force his way onto the PGA Tour. He has succeeded in the latter as he will compete at the Renaissance Club.
Chacarra qualified for the event by winning the DP World Tour's Hero Indian Open, an event he was able to compete in after being given an exemption. His victory gained him full status on the European circuit.
Because the Scottish Open is co-sanctioned with the DP World Tour, Chacarra will be free to compete against some of the very best of the PGA. According to Golf Digest, Chacarra won around $16m (£11.8m) in prize money alone over the course of his three years at LIV.
If he emerges from Scotland victorious, he will earn a handsome first prize of $1.6m (£1.19m). If his previous comments are anything to go by, he will have an immense amount of belief going into the action at the Renaissance.
After he won the Indian Open, Chacarra said: "You guys probably changed my life. It was a tough day, we knew it was going to be a long day with a lot of pressure and obviously not having the start I wanted to.
"I think I did a great job all week of staying patient and I know God was helping me today. I got a couple of good bounces [including] that chip on 14.
"I got some luck that you need to win but very proud. I know when I play my best I'm one of the best players in the world, I've already proved that a million times. It's just awesome. It's going to need to sink in but really proud and just happy."
There is no question that the Spaniard profited handsomely from his time at LIV. However, in a previous interview with Flushing it Golf earlier this year, Chacarra tore into the Saudi-backed tour, accusing it of only caring about the money.
He said: "I see what it's like to win on the PGA Tour and how your life changes. How you get major access and ranking points. On LIV, nothing changes; there is only money.
"It doesn't matter if you finish 30th or first, only money. I'm not a guy who wants more money. What will change my life is playing in Hawaii and qualifying for the majors, qualifying for the Masters, the Ryder Cup.'
If Chacarra shocks the golf world by winning in Scotland, he will earn a two-year PGA Tour exemption. If that is not possible, finishing in the top 10 of the DP World Tour's season-long race to Dubai standings would also see him become the first ex-LIV player to qualify for PGA Tour status.
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