DP World India Championship: Rory McIlroy drops 10 shots off lead as Eugenio Chacarra moves into position for another big win
Saturday's play was suspended because of fading light, with most of the field finishing their third rounds on Sunday; Eugenio Chacarra lead by two strokes from Joost Luiten and Angel Hidalgo going into final round in New Delhi; watch conclusion on Sky Sports Golf on Sunday
Monday 19 October 2026 08:24, UK
Spain's Eugenio Chacarra holds the lead at the DP World India Championship with Rory McIlroy dropping out of contention after the third round was halted by fading light.
Chacarra led by two strokes on 14 under when most of the field was yet to finish their third round and then went on to find three more birdies and an eagle when he completed his round on Sunday to start his fourth round 19 under par.
He started out in the halfway lead after completing a second-round 67 earlier on Saturday.
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Daniel Hillier now sits in second after a run of late birdies in his third round moved him to 14 under par.
Joost Luiten completed his round on Sunday and after being four under after 12 holes, he finished one under after 18 and sits third on 13 under par.
Patrick Reed and McIlroy - battling with Chacarra for the season-long Race to Dubai title - were eight and 10 shots off the lead respectively at the close of play on Saturday and after completing their third rounds, were 14 and 13 shots behind.
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.
When completing his round early on Sunday, McIlroy added two more late birdies to move to six under but is still way out of contention ahead of his final round.
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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