Francesco Laporta Fires 62 to Lead by Three

• Francesco Laporta shot a bogey-free 10-under 62 to lead the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship.
• Jon Rahm, Sam Bairstow and Bernd Wiesberger share second place at Yas Links.
• Race to Dubai leader Eugenio Chacarra and Rory McIlroy shot 70.

Francesco Laporta arrived at Yas Links 57th in the Race to Dubai Rankings, seven places short of a ticket to the season finale. One round in, he leads the first DP World Tour Play-Off event by three.

The Italian carded an eagle and eight birdies in a bogey-free 62, matching the lowest round of his DP World Tour career. Former world number one Jon Rahm, England’s Sam Bairstow and Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger share second place on 7-under.

The leading 70 available players in the rankings are in the field this week. The top 50 move on to the DP World Tour Championship.

FROM 40FT TO MOVE TO -10! @lapo10 is within touching distance of the Yas Links course record, 61 (-11). #AbuDhabiChamps | #RolexSeries https://t.co/VhBs060uTF

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 5, 2026

How did Laporta get to 10-under?

He birdied the par-5 2nd and holed a 30-footer at the 5th. At the par-5 7th he rolled in an eagle putt from 40 feet, then birdied the next two holes to turn in 30.

Another par-5, the 11th, yielded a birdie. He followed it with a brilliant tee shot at the par-3 13th, an approach to 12 feet at the 14th and a 40-foot putt on the 16th.

“Everything was just going like a video game, like just hitting shots straight and making some putts and just giving myself opportunities,” he said. “I’m very happy about that.

“Actually, I was struggling a bit in the last few days. So I had a lot of time on the range yesterday and I spent a lot of time on the greens, just understanding how to work around the lines and the spin because the greens, like they’re pure, but they’re also quick. So now it works.”

Yas Links suits him. When Tommy Fleetwood equalled the course record with a 62 in the first round two years ago, Laporta was also bogey-free, two shots back.

The 36-year-old came through Qualifying School and twice graduated from the HotelPlanner Tour, winning the Road to Mallorca in 2019. His best result this season came at the Investec South African Open Championship, where he shared second behind Casey Jarvis. That was the third runner-up finish of his DP World Tour career, and a Rolex Series title would be his biggest prize yet.

Who is chasing?

Bairstow was the last man into the field and the first man out in the morning. He made seven birdies without a bogey.

Rahm, making his Abu Dhabi debut, was also bogey-free. Wiesberger, on track for dual membership with the PGA Tour, made eight birdies and one bogey. England’s Matthew Jordan and Poland’s Adrian Meronk are a shot further back on 6-under.

On 5-under sit defending champion Aaron Rai, Tyrrell Hatton, Yuto Katsuragawa, Wenyi Ding, Shaun Norris and Kristoffer Reitan. Katsuragawa won the Genesis Championship less than a fortnight ago.

Race to Dubai

The title contenders made a quieter start. Chacarra mixed six birdies with four bogeys in his 70.

McIlroy also signed for 70 despite six birdies, including three in a row from the 14th. He made an 8 at the 12th after a two-stroke penalty under Rule 8.1b(4). The penalty was for his actions immediately before his fourth stroke, his second chip from the rough.

Reed made a birdie, a bogey and a double bogey at the last for 74.

“I don’t feel like I pressed down. But at the same time, I don’t want the perception of, like, people thinking like I got away with something either. So I’m happy to take a 2-shot penalty and move on and move into tomorrow.” Rory McIlroy speaks after his opening round 70 at the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship. #AbuDhabiChamps | #RolexSeries

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 5, 2026

Related: Tommy Fleetwood Academy launches at Yas Links Abu Dhabi

The world-class coaching brand expands its UAE footprint as Yas Links unveils the newly upgraded Tommy Fleetwood Academy, bringing elite performance training and player development to the capital.

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Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship Leaderboard