Indian Open: Good vibes flow for Eugenio Chacarra

GURUGRAM : “What you seek is seeking you.” Along the approach to the DLF Golf and Country Club, there is a billboard with this mystical line from Sufi poet Rumi. On the inscrutable Gary Player-designed layout, Eugenio Chacarra is seeking another boost after his breakthrough win at the Hero Indian Open last season. Is the course reciprocating the love, fuelling the Spaniard with positive energy? Chacarra must think so, after his three-under 69 put him at eight-under and pole position halfway down the 72hole journey. “When I’m having fun playing golf, I have already proved I’m one of the best in the world,” the 26-yearold said, embracing the surge of emotions, the “good vibes”.

“I feel like my ball striking has been outstanding and around this place if you have that, you are going to take advantage of the course,” he said.

Confidence is the name of the game. Patience too. Starting from the 10th tee, his putter cost him a couple of bogeys on the 10th and 14th and he found himself falling behind the pace. But his second-shot approach on the par-five 18th, scene of past success, revived the magic. He soared with an eagle and despite a setback on the third, finished with a flourish of four birdies in six holes.

“I like the grass, I like how it lies, I like the imagination one needs on the greens. For me, this is real golf,” the defending champ dwelled on the synergy.

He was feeding off his playing partners too. The 2018 British Open winner and Ryder Cup hero Francesco Molinari is “a hero”, Casey Jarvis “showed us all today how to score, how to play.”

It took South African Jarvis 84 tournaments to win once. It took him just seven days to win twice.

On Thursday, he cut a frustrated figure; on Friday, he was in full flow.

With the rains rendering the greens soft, the 22-year-old took full advantage of the conditions, with nine birdies strewn across the course with just a slight hiccup on the fourth for an eight-under 64. The No.3 in the Tour’s Race to Dubai rankings found himself a stroke behind Chacarra. “I think I’m just running on confidence at the moment,” he said.

With the Masters looming, he noted the similarities between this layout’s quick, sloping greens and the Augusta National’s. That coveted spot came via his triumph at his National Open, and the message he cherished most was from SA legend Gary Player.

Teenager Manoj, Chauhan within projected cut mark

A total of 29 players were still to complete their second rounds due to an earlier delay for lightning.

The cut is projected at fourover, and only two Indians are above the mark — Om Prakash Chouhan (T23) at levelpar, and teenager S Manoj (T41) at two-over. Top draw Akshay Bhatia was at fourover with two holes to finish.

Round Two leaderboard: -8 Eugenio Chacarra (ESP) 67-69, -7 Casey Jarvis (RSA) 73-64, -6 MJ Daffue (RSA) 71-67, -5 Freddy Schott (GER) 66-73; Best Indians: OP Chauhan (T23), S Manoj (T41).

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