Eugenio López Chacarra, from amateur golf to millionaire Saudi signing

Eurgenio López Chacarra, on May 29 at a tournament in Arizona. Justin Tafoya (NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

A future at the price of gold.

The Saudi league buys the great promise of Spanish golf.

Eugenio López Chacarra, 22 years old and number two in the amateur world, has taken an unexpected turn in his promising career and has signed for the millionaire LIV Golf project, swollen with the addictive ingredient of petrodollars, as a gateway to the sport professional.

The man from Madrid had given up a few weeks ago to still make that leap to the elite to continue training at the University of Oklahoma, where he is studying a double major in Finance and Psychology, and continue competing on the powerful American university circuit, where the best jewels of world golf.

That decision seemed like a prudent step in a world dominated by the demand for rapid growth.

Before they even get their teeth on the pro planet, the pups talk about being number one and winning a big one.

He too.

Chacarra, calm, commented then: “It was not an easy decision, there was a lot of money involved, but not everything in life is money.

I will finish my bachelor's degree, as I promised my parents."

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From that caution to the triple jump of now, a chest of gold has mediated.

The Saudi league has offered him a contract of 10 million dollars to compete in its tournaments for the next two seasons, fixed and expandable to five million more for a third course if he meets some qualifying objectives.

An "irrejectable" offer, as Chacarra explains to this newspaper, which has made him swerve his future and enlist with the rebels.

Next week he will play in Portland the second round of the eight that make up this groundbreaking project this year (he will be the third Spaniard along with Sergio García and Adrián Otaegui), and he will jump into the ring as a professional.

“It is a great opportunity.

It's a lot of money and I have to take advantage of it.

I think of myself, my future and that of my family”, says Chacarra.

“As I am not a member of the American circuit or the European circuit, but until now I have been an amateur, I am not breaking up with anyone, I have no commitment.

They can't expel me or punish me because I'm not doing anything illegal, I'm just taking advantage of this opportunity and this offer.

I'm very happy.

I accept a big contract and in the future, as I am not sanctioned now, I leave the door open to be able to reach the American circuit if the opportunity arose”.

The case of Eugenio Chacarra is an example of the path that, before signing for the Saudi league, many Spanish athletes today undertake: study and compete in the American university.

In Oklahoma he has signed the Madrilenian three wins and eight top tens this year showing off a great long game and a brave and attractive style, and brushed the prestigious Ben Hogan award for the best of the season.

That service record allowed him to play the Korn Ferry Tour next year, the previous step to the American circuit, and enjoy up to seven invitations to rub shoulders with the stars on the PGA.

But that horizon has closed with the opening of the resplendent Saudi briefcase.

Chacarra will play the remaining seven tournaments of the new league and will be eligible for the European circuit, which for now has chosen the economic fine (116,000 euros) for dissidents instead of expulsion.

The drawback will be the difficulty to add many points in the world ranking.

In return, you will see many zeros in the bank account.

The boy who trained with Seve

The publication Golfweek recently included Eugenio López Chacarra in a list of 10 golfers who he was betting would win on the PGA Tour next year.

Until now, the man from Madrid had played three tournaments on the American circuit thanks to invitations, with a 45th place in the Sanderson Farms as the best result (two failed cuts) and he is number 1,785 in the world ranking.

"I like the game in the United States, it goes to my abilities to hit hard and high," explains Chacarra.

His sister Carolina, three years younger, is also working on the American university circuit.

The man from Madrid had reached that step prior to the top after a path of firm steps.

The new signing of the Saudi league remembers that when he was six or seven years old he shared some practice with Seve Ballesteros, with whom he coincided in Pedreña in the summer because his paternal family is from Santander.

The legendary player even let him into his trophy room and pick up the British Open champion mug.

Another illustrious training partner has been Gareth Bale.

Chacarra coincided with the Welshman at the Madrid club La Moraleja, of which both are members.

Eugenio remembers the time he saw the then-Madrid striker practicing alone, he approached him, they began to chat and a friendship began beyond the green.

Chacarra and Bale have even shared an afternoon of video games at the Welsh footballer's house.

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