Jon Rahm made the most of his Abu Dhabi debut, winning the 2026 Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship at Yas Links to claim a record-breaking sixth Rolex Series title.
The Spaniard closed with a final-round 67 to finish on 23 under par. As a result, he won by two shots from his good friend and Ryder Cup team-mate Tyrrell Hatton.
Rahm breaks Rolex Series tie with Hatton
Before Sunday, Rahm and Hatton shared the record for Rolex Series wins with five each. Fittingly, the pair went head to head in the final group alongside Italy’s Francesco Laporta.
On the back nine, Rahm, Hatton, Laporta and Rory McIlroy briefly shared the lead at 20 under. However, Rahm then pulled clear, and although Hatton kept him honest to the end, the Spaniard held on for his 11th DP World Tour title.
“Last to first”: Rahm reacts to Abu Dhabi win
Rahm, who turns 32 on Tuesday, admitted the win felt special after a difficult spell on the DP World Tour.
“It would mean a lot,” Rahm said. “I’m almost not letting myself believe it because it’s been quite a while since I played good in a DP World Tour event and my last showing, if we don’t count withdrawals, I think I finished last.
“So last to first, it’s a pretty good feeling.”
He was also pleased with the quality of his closing holes. “As far as I’m concerned, apart from the tee shot at 17 it was a pretty flawless back nine. It was really, really solid,” he said.
“I was never in danger of making a bogey except that one hole, so a lot of them deserve a lot of credit, but definitely that second shot on 15, that six-iron might be contender for shot of the year for me.”
Rahm also reflected on a challenging year away from the course. “After everything that’s gone on and some poor play, battles mentally with the noise, to come back out after a little bit of rest and having a new addition to the family, it’s special.”
How the final round unfolded at Yas Links
McIlroy made a fast start. He drove the green at the 378-yard first for a birdie, then holed a huge eagle putt from off the fairway at the second to reach 19 under.
Meanwhile, Rahm also birdied the first. When McIlroy bogeyed the third, the Spaniard briefly held the outright lead.
Laporta then joined Rahm on 19 under with birdies at the first and third. Moments later, the Italian went one clear when Rahm also dropped a shot at the third.
Rahm responded with back-to-back birdies from the fifth to move back to the top at 20 under. Laporta and Hatton, who matched those birdies, sat one behind.
After Laporta birdied the seventh, he and Rahm shared a one-shot lead at the turn on 20 under.
Four-way tie on the back nine
McIlroy birdied the 10th and 11th to join the leaders. When Hatton also birdied the 11th, four players were tied at the top.
That lasted only moments, though. Rahm and Laporta both tapped in for birdie at the same hole to edge ahead at 21 under.
The 12th then produced a two-shot swing. Laporta found trouble and failed to get up and down, while Rahm birdied from short range to reach 22 under.
Laporta’s challenge ended at the 13th, where a triple bogey dropped him five behind.
Rahm’s stunning six-iron seals the title
At the 15th, Rahm hit a superb six-iron approach and tapped in for birdie to tighten his grip on the tournament.
Hatton birdied the same hole to stay two behind. Even so, Rahm closed with three straight pars to secure victory.
Hatton books DP World Tour Championship spot
Hatton signed for a final-round 68 to finish solo second at 21 under. Crucially, the result also sealed his place at next week’s DP World Tour Championship.
McIlroy climbs the Race to Dubai Rankings
McIlroy finished third at 19 under. That result lifted him to second in the Race to Dubai Rankings as he chases a record-equalling eighth Harry Vardon Trophy.
Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship 2026: final leaderboard
- 1st: Jon Rahm (ESP), -23
- 2nd: Tyrrell Hatton (ENG), -21
- 3rd: Rory McIlroy (NIR), -19
- 4th: Francesco Laporta (ITA), -17
- T5: Angel Ayora (ESP), David Puig (ESP), Bernd Wiesberger (AUT), -16
- 8th: Jayden Schaper (RSA), -15
- T9: Nathan Kimsey (ENG), Matthew Jordan (ENG), Adam Scott (AUS), Frederic Lacroix (FRA), Freddy Schott (GER), -14
Want to see the action at Yas Links in person? Register your interest for the 2027 Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship.
