Eugenio Chacarra’s Puerto Rico Gamble: Why His PGA Tour Bid Matters More Than You Think

I’ve watched a lot of talented young golfers make big decisions in their careers, and I’ve seen plenty of them regret those choices years later. But Eugenio Chacarra’s journey—from LIV defector to sponsor exemption chaser at the Puerto Rico Open—tells a more nuanced story than the typical “wrong move, now fixing it” narrative. What strikes me most is his clarity about what happened and his willingness to own his decisions without bitterness.

That’s rare in professional golf, frankly.

The LIV Experiment: A Learning Experience, Not a Mistake

Here’s what most casual fans miss about Chacarra’s time in Saudi Arabia: he actually had early success. The kid won in his fifth start on the LIV circuit in 2022, which is legitimately impressive. That’s not nothing. He wasn’t some failed project who flamed out immediately. But he was also sharp enough—and honest enough—to recognize when the promises didn’t materialize and when the league’s structure favored its megastars over mid-tier players working to build their game.

When he eventually left, Chacarra became, by his own account, the first former LIV player to openly criticize the league. That took guts. The LIV money is real, and walking away from it to chase a PGA Tour card that’s far from guaranteed? That’s conviction.

What I appreciate most is that Chacarra hasn’t played the victim card. Listen to what he said when reflecting on his time in the league:

“I think it was a good space in my life, that I learn a lot. I had a chance to make friends. I had a chance to learn from really great players and historic players of the game of golf.”

In my thirty-five years covering professional golf, I’ve learned that the players who bounce back successfully are the ones who extract lessons from difficult situations rather than just bury them. Chacarra’s doing that. He’s not pretending LIV was all bad or dwelling on what he perceives as mismanagement. He’s moving forward with clear eyes.

The Indian Open Victory: Proof of Concept

What changed things materially was Chacarra’s win at the Hero Indian Open in New Delhi this past March. That victory on a sponsor exemption earned him full DP World Tour status and opened the door to the PGA Tour via the Race to Dubai pathway. He didn’t get his card by year’s end, but the win gave him another shot at it in 2026 with full tour membership.

That’s the kind of tangible reset a player needs after leaving a league like LIV. It’s not just narrative redemption; it’s actual tour status. In my experience caddying for Tom in the late ’90s, I learned that status matters almost as much as talent. You need to be in the room where decisions get made, and now Chacarra has that seat.

Why Puerto Rico Matters More Than You Might Think

The sponsor exemption to the Puerto Rico Open next week isn’t just another tournament. Here’s the calculus: Chacarra’s passing up the South African Open—a tournament where a win would have earned him a Masters invitation. That’s a genuine opportunity cost. Masters invitations don’t grow on trees, especially for a 25-year-old trying to establish himself on the PGA Tour.

But here’s why I think he’s making the right call. A PGA Tour card opens more doors than a one-off major appearance ever could. It means consistent tournament access, corporate exemptions, world ranking stability—all the infrastructure that separates established tour members from perpetual grinders.

“I’m excited to finally get a chance to play on the PGA Tour. I’ve been working a lot of these couple weeks at home. I needed some time to reset and focus on what’s the most important thing for me right now, that’s to get on the PGA Tour as quick as possible.”

There’s no hedging in that statement. He’s clear about his priority, and that’s exactly the kind of focused mindset you need when you’re chasing something specific.

The Bigger Picture: What This Says About Tour Dynamics

Chacarra’s story also reveals something important about the current landscape of professional golf that doesn’t always make headlines. The old binary choice—European Tour or PGA Tour—is increasingly complicated. Now you’ve got LIV, the DP World Tour restructuring, PGA Tour University programs, and sponsor exemptions creating multiple pathways.

For young players, that’s both liberating and bewildering. Chacarra had to learn the hard way that not all pathways lead where you want to go. But having options matters. His Hero Indian Open win created leverage that a player in a similar position might not have had five years ago.

One Made Cut, But Not for Long

Let’s be honest about the numbers: Chacarra has exactly one made cut on the PGA Tour—a T-45 at the 2021 Sanderson Farms Championship. His most recent PGA Tour-sanctioned event was the Genesis Scottish Open last year as a DP World Tour member. He’s currently 27th on the Race to Dubai rankings but missed two of his last three cuts.

That’s not a resume that screams “ready.” But it’s also not disqualifying. He’s 25 years old with wins on three different professional tours. The talent is obviously there; the consistency is what needs work. Puerto Rico represents his best chance to convert an opportunity into something career-defining.

What I find encouraging is that Chacarra recognizes the stakes without being paralyzed by them. He’s not overthinking the moment. He’s just preparing and showing up.

“Just we all know how golf is and how everything can change in a week.”

That’s the humility of a player who’s lived through enough already to know that golf humbles you regardless of your resume.

Next week at the Puerto Rico Open, Chacarra gets his shot. He’s paid his dues on the back nine of his early career, learned what he needed to learn, and now he’s got clarity about what’s next. That’s more than most young players have at his age. Whether he seals the deal will be up to him, but I’d be watching closely.