Former LIV winner to play PGA Tour co-sanctioned event

For the first time in golf’s ongoing schism, a winner on the LIV Golf League is about to tee it up in a PGA Tour-sanctioned event.

Genesis Scottish Open week is upon us and there are plenty of subplots at The Renaissance Club ahead of The Open at Royal Portrush.

These days, Scotland’s national open is one of the biggest events on the calendar in itself and Rory McIlroy will be joined by Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele and a host of other major champions in East Lothian for the $9million Rolex Series event.

Another intriguing name on the field list, however, is Eugenio Chacarra.

The Spaniard, who turned professional and joined the lucrative LIV breakaway in 2022, won a title in Bangkok during his debut season and emerged as one of the most talented young players on the fledgling circuit.

But at the end of the 2024 season, Chacarra’s LIV career came to a rather abrupt end.

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After his three-year contract was not renewed by his Fireballs GC team, Chacarra left with some strong words for his former employers, saying “your life changes” with a victory on the PGA Tour, while a LIV victory brings you “only money.”

He did stress that he is “thankful for everything LIV has given him,” after racking up over $15million in prize money across a remarkably lucrative spell.

Now, however, his heart looks set on earning a full-time PGA Tour card.

Chacarra won the Hero Indian Open at the notorious DLF course in March to claim his full playing rights on the DP World Tour.

His LIV involvement means Chacarra has a one-year PGA Tour suspension until September 2025.

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But in East Lothian, Chacarra qualifies to play under the Category 3 Criteria: ‘Winners of the Race to Dubai Ranking Tournaments with a prize fund equal to or above $2million.’

That victory in India means Chacarra can claim one of the 75 spots afforded to the DP World Tour in this co-sanctioned event.

After missing the cut at the BMW International Open in Munich this week, Chacarra is currently 19th in the DP World Tour’s order of merit.

The top-ten players not already exempt will earn PGA Tour cards for the 2026 season.

Ben Parsons is the Senior Writer at bunkered and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.