Andy DevaneyThere are easier ways to prepare for your national open than fracturing a toe during a midnight expedition for a glass of water.
Eugenio Chacarra discovered that rather inconvenient truth last week. On Thursday in Madrid, he demonstrated that the injury had done remarkably little to upset his golf swing.
The Spaniard opened the Open de España with a five-under-par 66, complete with two eagles, to share the first-round lead with Scotland’s Connor Syme and Grant Forrest at Real Club de Campo Villa de Madrid.
A splendid start by any measure. The trouble is that Chacarra’s ability to produce birdies and eagles is currently rather better than his ability to walk comfortably between them.
And with the Race to Dubai title potentially within reach, his biggest decision may have nothing to do with club selection.
A broken toe and an expensive round of golf
Chacarra is one of 20 Spaniards competing in Madrid this week, and his determination to play is understandable.
The three-time DP World Tour winner has already collected two national open titles this season, winning in the Netherlands and Italy in consecutive summer starts. Completing a third on home soil would be quite a collection.
Unfortunately, his fractured toe has introduced a complication that no amount of good ball-striking can entirely remove.
The injury, sustained during a late-night trip for water while in the United States last week, does not significantly trouble him when swinging. Walking the course is another matter.
Chacarra admitted afterwards that the physical demands of completing his opening round had left him uncertain about continuing.
Yeah, it’s not good, not good. I suffered a lot since hole 16. It’s been tough. I don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow, but obviously I need to take care of myself.
Obviously, I got a good round, but just how I feel physically, it’s not great. I don’t know, it’s just hard. It’s a struggle. It doesn’t really hurt when I’m swinging. That’s the only good thing. It’s why I can still make a score, but it’s just been really tough to walk.
I made it today but the pain I had in the last 12 holes walking is something that I don’t know if it’s worth it because I’ve got a lot to play for in the next couple of weeks. So, I’ll just sit down with the team and see what we decide because it was tough.
Obviously, this one is very important; that’s why I can tell you right now if it was another event, I wouldn’t have teed it up this week. I just need to see with the team, doctor and my physio and see what we can do.
It is an awkward predicament. Chacarra has put himself in an excellent position to challenge for the title, yet the very act of staying in contention could come at a physical cost he is reluctant to accept.
Connor Syme has his own reasons for perspective
While Chacarra was negotiating his way around Madrid in considerable discomfort, Connor Syme was enjoying a rather different sort of relief.
The Scot also signed for a five-under 66, having arrived in Spain only on Tuesday night following a scare involving his heavily pregnant wife, when the couple thought their baby might arrive early.
Tournament preparation tends to lose its importance rather quickly under those circumstances.
Syme, who has already secured his DP World Tour card for next season, acknowledged that events at home had changed his perspective on the week.
His golf was nevertheless sharp. Starting on the back nine, he made an encouraging early move before encountering the sort of trouble that makes this Madrid layout difficult to negotiate. A slightly wayward drive was enough to illustrate how quickly a promising round can surrender a shot.
Despite that interruption, he finished alongside Chacarra and fellow Scot Grant Forrest at the top of the leaderboard.
For Syme, the uncertainty concerns what happens beyond this tournament. For Chacarra, there is the rather more immediate matter of whether he can comfortably complete another round.
Sergio Garcia in pursuit as Hillier wins a BMW
The leading trio have precious little breathing space.
Four players sit just one stroke behind on four under, including Spanish pair Sergio Garcia and Angel Ayora, Denmark’s Jacob Skov Olesen and New Zealand’s Daniel Hillier.
Hillier supplied another memorable moment on Thursday, recording his first DP World Tour hole-in-one at the 17th.
It was an ace with a particularly agreeable bonus: a BMW iX5.
For the rest of the chasing pack, the reward they will be concentrating on is a place at the top of the leaderboard. With seven players separated by a single stroke, the opening round has left the championship finely balanced.
Race to Dubai stakes complicate Chacarra’s decision
For Chacarra, this is about considerably more than a potential third victory of the season.
A win in Madrid, combined with a missed cut for current Race to Dubai Rankings leader Patrick Reed, could propel the Spaniard to the top of the standings in the contest for the Harry Vardon Trophy.
Rory McIlroy sits between Reed and Chacarra in that race and is scheduled to return to competition at next week’s DP World India Championship.
That makes the timing of the injury particularly unfortunate.
Chacarra has the form, the position on the leaderboard and the opportunity to make a substantial move in the season-long rankings. What he does not currently have is any certainty about how much more punishment his injured foot can tolerate.
There is no shortage of incentive to continue. Equally, with important tournaments approaching, there are consequences to consider beyond one week in Madrid.
His team, doctor and physiotherapist will be involved in deciding what happens next.
For now, Chacarra shares the lead after a round featuring two eagles and just 66 strokes. Finding another low score appears well within his capabilities.
Getting around the course to record it might be the harder part.
