Jon Rahm Caps Abu Dhabi Debut with Record Sixth Rolex Series Title

• Jon Rahm won the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship by two shots.
• The victory is a record sixth Rolex Series title and his 11th on the DP World Tour.
• Tyrrell Hatton finished second, with Rory McIlroy third.

Jon Rahm closed with a 67 at Yas Links on Sunday to win the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship on his first start in the UAE capital, and with it a record sixth Rolex Series title.

The Spaniard took a one-shot lead into the final round and finished 23-under, two clear of Tyrrell Hatton. The two men began the week on five Rolex Series wins apiece, Hatton having drawn level at the 2025 Hero Dubai Desert Classic. That made Sunday’s final group, completed by Francesco Laporta, a straight shoot-out for the record.

“It means 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.”

That last showing was the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. He then missed the Open de España for the birth of his fourth child, and subsequently he agreed terms to leave LIV Golf, giving up his claims against the bankrupt league in return for control of his name, image and likeness.

“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,” said Rahm, who turns 32 on Tuesday.

OFFICIAL: Jon Rahm wins the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship 🏆 #AbuDhabiChamps | #RolexSeries https://t.co/Pff6EIlvwa

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 8, 2026

How did Rahm pull clear?

The early exchanges were frantic. McIlroy drove the green at the 378-yard 1st for birdie and holed a huge eagle putt from the fairway at the 2nd to reach 19-under, before bogeying the 3rd. Rahm also dropped a shot there, and Laporta led on his own with birdies at the 1st and 3rd.

Back-to-back birdies from the 5th returned Rahm to the top at 20-under, and Laporta’s birdie at the 7th meant the pair shared the lead at the turn. McIlroy birdied the 10th and 11th, and Hatton picked up a shot at the 11th, so four players stood on 20-under. Rahm and Laporta both birdied the same hole moments later to edge back in front.

The 12th was a two-shot swing. Laporta found trouble and could not get up and down, while Rahm birdied from short range to reach 22-under. The Italian’s challenge ended with a triple bogey at the 13th.

Rahm’s decisive blow came at the 15th, where his approach finished close enough for a tap-in birdie.

“Apart from the tee-shot at 17 it was a pretty flawless back nine,” he said. “Definitely that second shot on 15, that six iron might be contender for shot of the year for me.”

Hatton birdied the 15th as well, but Rahm parred his last three holes to keep him two strokes back.

Hatton and McIlroy look to Dubai

Hatton’s closing 68 earned him solo second and sealed his place at next week’s DP World Tour Championship. McIlroy’s third place lifted him to second in the Race to Dubai rankings as he chases a record-equalling eighth Harry Vardon Trophy.

Laporta took fourth on 17-under. Spain’s Ángel Ayora and David Puig finished on 16-under alongside Bernd Wiesberger, with Jayden Schaper alone in eighth on 15-under. Nathan Kimsey, Matthew Jordan, Adam Scott, Frederic Lacroix and Freddy Schott were a shot further back.

The season concludes at the DP World Tour Championship on the Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates from November 12-15. Rahm has won that event three times.

 

For the latest news in the golfing world, follow us on X.

Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship Leaderboard