LIV Golf star shuts down exit rumour

Eugenio Chacarra insists rumours he wants to leave LIV Golf are ‘not true’.

It was reported by No Laying Up that the Spaniard was seeking an exit from the Saudi-backed league after finishing his third season.

But, ahead of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, Chacarra told bunkered.co.uk that he is desperate to stay, despite facing an expired contract.

“That’s not true at all,” Chacarra said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen next year. I wasn’t relegated so I’m still available for any team and maybe Fireballs, we’ll see what Sergio decides.

“I would love to stay, my goal is to stay and even if they don’t pick me, I can still go to LIV Promotions and play my way in, so we’ll see what happens.

“Good golf will take care of itself, but I’m excited for these upcoming opportunities.”

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Chacarra, 24, signed a three-year contract with LIV in 2022, during the circuit’s inaugural season. In October that year, he won the LIV Golf Invitational Bangkok event.

The former world No.2 amateur joined Fireballs GC and while he hasn’t spoken to captain Sergio Garcia about returning, Chacarra hopes to.

“We’ve just talked like normal; he’s [Garcia] always been very nice to me,” Chacarra said. “The season only just ended two weeks ago so it’s a little early.

“He had a great season, and the team played pretty well. We have a great team with great chemistry and whatever happens will be for the best.

“I love the Fireballs; I played there for three years and have fought for every shot. It’s always going to be in my heart. We’ll see what happens but hopefully I can stay with the Fireballs.”

After finishing in the ‘Open Zone’, Chacarra is now a free agent and can be re-signed by his team or picked up by another.

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Otherwise, he will tee it up in LIV Golf Promotions – an event that hands the top three finishers entry into LIV Golf for the following season.

He could also find his way onto several other tours.

“I have a lot of options and opportunities,” Chacarra added. “I’m a member on the Asian Tour because I won on the International Series, so I can make my way up to LIV or the DP World Tour or PGA Tour.

“But like I said, my goal is to stay on LIV.”

Meanwhile, Chacarra is in Scotland this week, marking his second consecutive DP World Tour start after making the cut at the Open de Espana last week.

It’s only his third appearance on the Wentworth-based tour since 2019.

“This is my first time playing the Dunhill, but I’ve been here a bunch,” he added. “I won at Fairmont last year on the International Series on the Asian Tour.

“I love the city, love the people and love how St Andrews is, so I’m excited to be here and looking forward to this week.”

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Tryst Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.