Rahm turns a one-shot lead into a two-shot win
Jon Rahm took a one-stroke lead into Sunday at Yas Links and finished the day with the trophy. A five-under 67, six birdies against one bogey, put him on 23 under and two clear of Tyrrell Hatton at the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship. It was his first appearance in the event and a record sixth Rolex Series win.
The lead did not hold in a straight line. Rahm birdied the first, then gave the shot back at the third after finding two fairway bunkers. Francesco Laporta moved ahead, and Hatton and Rory McIlroy each spent time on top as well. Rahm answered with birdies at the fifth and sixth, added a two-putt birdie at the par-five 11th, and gained a shot at the 12th when his playing partner bogeyed.
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From there he managed the finish. He holed from four feet at the 15th to match Hatton’s birdie, kept a two-shot cushion with three to play, and parred his way home.
McIlroy leaves with ground gained in the Race to Dubai
McIlroy’s round started in spectacular fashion. He drove the green at the 378-yard first for a two-putt birdie, then holed a putt from close to 50 feet for eagle at the second. Birdies at the 10th and 11th pulled him level at the top, but he could not convert good looks at the 12th and 13th, and a missed five-footer for par at the 15th ended the push.
He finished four shots back in third, his 11th top-three finish in 15 starts in Abu Dhabi. Laporta took fourth at 17 under after a triple bogey at the par-three 13th stalled his charge. The result lifted McIlroy above Patrick Reed into second in the Race to Dubai, 533.93 points behind leader Eugenio Chacarra, who finished tied for 22nd.
A first win since leaving LIV
For Rahm, this was his first win since leaving LIV Golf and his first DP World Tour title since before he joined the Saudi-backed circuit. He admitted it had been a while since he played well on the European tour, and said coming back after a short break following the birth of his child made it special.
The DP World Tour Championship is next, where only the top 50 available players in the Race to Dubai standings will tee it up.
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