After leaving the LIV Golf League last year—with a few haymakers thrown on his way out—Eugenio Chacarra said the long-term goal was to play on the PGA Tour. The 25-year-old Spaniard gets his wish, albeit for just one event, at this week’s Genesis Scottish Open, where he claimed a spot in the field thanks to his status on the DP World Tour, which co-sanctions the tournament.
In the process, Charcarra will make a bit of history, becoming the first winner of a LIV Golf event to compete in a regular-season PGA Tour stop.
Playing on a sponsor’s exemption at the Hero Indian Open in March, Chacarra won the title to earn full membership on the DP World Tour. That sped up the goal of playing on the PGA Tour given that the top 10 players on the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai standings at the end of 2025 who don’t already have PGA Tour cards earn full status for 2026. He’s currently 19th in the Race to Dubai standings.
In March, Laurie Canter became the first LIV golfer to compete in a regular season event when he qualified for the Players Championship based on his World Ranking. Two weeks ago, former LIV player James Piot received a sponsor’s exemption to compete in the Rocket Classic in his home state of Michigan. Both players were able to compete in their respective events thanks to the fact that had not played in a LIV event within a year of their PGA Tour appearance. Chacarra’s last start in a LIV event was in September, but he is free to play in the Scottish Open because of his status as a DP World Tour member.
Chacarra hopes this will be the first step toward an eventual membership in the U.S. Prior to joining LIV Golf in 2022, Chacarra played in four PGA Tour events, making the cut as an amateur at the 2021 Sanderson Farms Championship. But in the summer of 2022, Chacarra decided to leave Oklahoma State and turn professional, signing with LIV. In his fifth start as a pro, he won the LIV title in Bangkok, earning the lucrative $4 million first-place prize money payout.
Just five starts into his LIV Golf career, Eugenio Chacarra claimed victory in Bangkok. But two years later he left the upstart circuit.
Jonathan Ferrey/LIV Golf
Chacarra continued on the LIV circuit through the 2024 season, earning nearly $16 million overall, but did not re-sign. Afterward, he expressed frustration with playing on the circuit.
“When I joined LIV, they promised OWGR and majors. But it didn’t happen,” Charcarra said. “I trusted them. I was the first young guy, then the others came after I made the decision. But OWGR and majors still hasn’t happened.
“It’s frustrating, but I’m excited for the new opportunity and to see where my game takes me.
Charcarra’s performance this week at The Renaissance Club in Gullane could have a big impact on his placement in the Race to Dubai standings and the quest at getting a full PGA Tour card.
“I see what it’s like to win on the PGA Tour and how your life changes,” Chacarra said in January. “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.”
