Daniel Hillier’s remarkable run at the DP World India Championship has continued, with the New Zealand golfer climbing to 11 under par and into a share of fourth place before darkness suspended play for the third consecutive day at Delhi Golf Club. Meanwhile, Ryan Fox’s tournament has come to a disappointing end after missing the halfway cut.
Hillier has emerged as one of the standout performers of the tournament, backing up Friday’s sensational eight-under-par 64 with another outstanding display during Saturday’s third round.
The Wellington golfer was five under par through 14 holes when fading daylight forced officials to suspend play, leaving him at 11 under overall and just three strokes behind Spain’s Eugenio Chacarra.
Hillier shares fourth place with Adrian Meronk and Scott Jamieson, putting him firmly in contention for what could be a hugely significant victory in his pursuit of a PGA Tour card.
Hillier’s Incredible Comeback Continues
It is difficult to imagine a more dramatic turnaround than the one Daniel Hillier has produced in New Delhi.
After struggling through an opening-round 74, which at one stage had him four over par and facing the possibility of missing the cut, Hillier has completely transformed his tournament.
His stunning second-round 64, featuring an eagle and six birdies, reignited his challenge and represented his lowest round of the season.
Rather than allowing that performance to be a one-off, the Kiwi carried his momentum straight into Saturday’s third round.
Hillier was once again in outstanding form, moving five under par through his opening 14 holes to reach 11 under for the championship.
Across his last 32 holes, Hillier has played an extraordinary 13 under par — a remarkable display of scoring that has propelled him from the brink of elimination into genuine title contention.
With four holes remaining in his third round, Hillier has an opportunity to close the gap further before Sunday’s final round begins.
PGA Tour Dream Within Reach
The timing of Hillier’s performance could hardly be more important.
The 28-year-old is chasing one of the ten PGA Tour cards awarded to the leading eligible players on the DP World Tour’s season-long Race to Dubai standings.
Having missed out on a PGA Tour card by just one position last season, Hillier knows exactly how valuable a strong finish can be.
He entered the week occupying the final provisional PGA Tour qualifying position, making every point potentially crucial.
A top-five finish in India would represent a significant result in that battle, while a victory could provide an enormous boost heading into the final tournaments of the season.
But with Hillier just three strokes behind the leader and still playing some of the best golf in the field, an even bigger result remains possible.
Play Suspended for Third Consecutive Day
The DP World India Championship has been plagued by scheduling disruptions since Thursday’s opening round.
Thunderstorms initially forced a delay of nearly five hours, leaving large sections of the field unable to complete their rounds.
Friday brought another suspension due to fading daylight, and Saturday’s action followed the same pattern.
With the delayed second round finally completed earlier in the day, players were forced to squeeze as much third-round golf as possible into the remaining daylight.
However, officials again called a halt before the round could be completed.
Play is scheduled to resume at 6.35am local time on Sunday, leaving Hillier facing a potentially gruelling final day.
He must first complete the remaining four holes of his third round before tackling the scheduled final 18 holes.
That means 22 holes of competitive golf stand between Hillier and a possible DP World Tour victory.
Ryan Fox Misses the Cut
While Hillier’s fortunes have soared, fellow New Zealander Ryan Fox has endured a disappointing week in India.
Fox’s opening-round 76 left him with considerable work to do, and although he improved with a two-under-par 70 in his second round, it was not enough to make the weekend.
His two-over-par total of 146 saw him miss the even-par cut by two strokes.
Fox had adopted an unusual strategy for the tournament, leaving his driver out of the bag to negotiate Delhi Golf Club’s narrow, tree-lined fairways.
The tactical adjustment reflected the unique demands of the course, but his improved second round was ultimately insufficient to recover from Thursday’s difficult start.
The early exit is a setback for Fox, who entered the tournament sixth in the Race to Dubai standings.
Chacarra Leads as Hillier Closes In
Spain’s Eugenio Chacarra leads the tournament at 14 under par after completing 11 holes of his third round.
Chacarra, who won the Hero Indian Open in 2025, has continued his impressive record in India and holds a two-stroke advantage over Angel Hidalgo and Joost Luiten, who sit at 12 under.
Hillier, Meronk and Jamieson are just one further shot behind on 11 under.
Meanwhile, Rory McIlroy has slipped down the leaderboard to four under par after a difficult third round, leaving him ten shots off the pace.
The congested leaderboard ensures that Sunday’s conclusion could provide plenty of drama.
Can Hillier Complete a Famous Victory?
For New Zealand golf fans, all eyes will now be on Daniel Hillier.
From struggling at four over par during his opening round to charging into the top four, his turnaround has been nothing short of extraordinary.
He has already demonstrated that he can produce the low scores required to challenge the tournament’s best players.
Now comes the ultimate test: maintaining that momentum through a demanding 22-hole Sunday.
With a potential DP World Tour victory and valuable PGA Tour qualification points on the line, Hillier has given himself a remarkable opportunity.
Ryan Fox’s challenge may be over, but Daniel Hillier has ensured New Zealand remains firmly in the hunt for the DP World India Championship title.
Scores and positions are provisional following the suspension of third-round play on Saturday 17 October 2026.
