LIV golfer wins Asian Tour event after extraordinary 10-hole playoff
Eugenio Chacarra took over two hours to beat another LIV Golf colleague to seal victory in the St Andrews Bay Championship
“It was a long day” Eugenio Chacarra said after winning the St Andrews Bay Championship in historic fashion.
The Spaniard beat his LIV Golf colleague Matt Jones after a staggering 10-hole playoff at Fairmont St Andrews.
The playoff lasted more than two hours and broke the record for the longest playoff in the Asian Tour’s history, surpassing the seven-hole playoff from the 2001 SK Telecom Open.
After tying in regulation play on 19-under-par, Jones missed a five-footer on the 18th hole, conceding victory to his young opponent who skipped his senior year at Oklahoma University to join LIV in 2022.
“Happy it came out my way, but I mean, Matt had a tremendous day as well,” Chacarra said. “Tremendous 10 holes, I think we all know he’s a great player. Thank you very much – it came out my way but I’m sure Matt will win a lot of more events.
Last man standing🏌️🏆@Eugeniochacarra is a winner on the Asian Tour after claiming victory on the 82nd hole at the 𝗦𝘁 𝗔𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗕𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 ⛳#SABC #InternationalSeries #whereitsAT pic.twitter.com/PPCwnoZFcm
— Asian Tour (@asiantourgolf) August 27, 2023
“It was amazing, I think the Asian Tour is doing amazing things. They’re growing the game of golf and I had a lot of fun. We normally don’t get these good days in Scotland, so it was awesome.
“Obviously I got the win so it would make it a little more fun, but it was awesome. Thanks to the Asian Tour and International Series for what they’re doing and hopefully we can come back a lot more years.”
Jones, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour, looked beaten on the third extra hole in Scotland, but sensationally chipped in to stay alive.
Chacarra eventually secured a first 72-hole win since turning pro, one hole shy of the longest sudden death playoff of all time which came at the 1949 Motor City Open between Cary Middlecoff and Lloyd Mangrum.
The 23-year-old won the LIV Golf Bangkok Invitational last year, just five starts into his LIV career. He is now a member of Fireballs GC with Sergio Garcia, Abraham Ancer and Carlos Ortiz.
Garcia was one of the headline acts from the LIV Golf roster teeing it up in St Andrews, as well as Harold Varner III, Paul Casey and Mito Pereira.
Eugenio Chacarra secures a LIV Golf Asian Tour victory, but what did you make of it! Tell us with a post on X, formerly Twitter!
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Matt Chivers
Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.
Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.
Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.
Matt joined NCG in February 2023 and is the website’s main source of tour news, features and opinion. He has reported live from events such as The Open, the Ryder Cup and The Players Championship, having also interviewed and spent time with some of the biggest names in the sport.
Consuming tour golf on what is a 24/7 basis, you can come to Matt for informed views on the game and the latest updates on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, LPGA Tour, Ladies European Tour and LIV Golf.
What’s in Matt’s bag: Cobra LTDx LS driver, Cobra LTDx 3-wood, TaylorMade P7MC irons, Ping Glide 4.0 wedges, Odyssey putter.
