Jon Rahm shot a 6-under 66 on Saturday to seize a one-shot lead into the final round of the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship at Yas Links, the Associated Press reported.
The Spaniard stands at 18-under par, one stroke ahead of Tyrrell Hatton and Francesco Laporta, who both carded 67s, the BBC reported. Rory McIlroy, who shared the overnight lead with Rahm, dropped to fourth place at 16 under after a bogey at the par-3 17th and a double-bogey at the par-4 10th in his third-round 67, the AP reported.
The 31-year-old Spaniard shared the overnight lead with Hatton and Laporta before moving clear, leaving three Masters winners in the top five — Rahm (2023), McIlroy (2025 and 2026) and Adam Scott (2013), the AP reported. McIlroy, a six-time major winner, carded eight birdies in his third-round 67, the BBC reported.
Race to Dubai Title Hangs in the Balance
A victory Sunday would mark Rahm’s first solo triumph since winning the Masters in 2023, the BBC reported. For McIlroy, winning would strengthen his position in the Race to Dubai standings, where he is chasing a fifth consecutive season title and an eighth overall to tie Colin Montgomerie’s record, according to the AP. Eugenio Chacarra currently leads those rankings, the AP reported.
Chacarra fired a 5-under 67 on Saturday and is tied for 29th place at 8 under overall, with McIlroy projected to rise to No. 2 in the standings behind him, the AP reported. The Race to Dubai crowns the No. 1 player on the European tour; McIlroy sits roughly 1,000 points behind Chacarra and about 330 behind second-place Patrick Reed, while the winner in Abu Dhabi will gain 1,500 points and next week’s Dubai finale offers 2,000 points to its champion, ESPN reported.
Rebounding After Penalty and Round Performance
McIlroy’s week began with a two-shot penalty in Thursday’s opening round for improving his lie before a chip shot on the par-4 12th, which turned his double-bogey into an 8, ESPN reported. He rebounded Friday with a career-high 11 birdies in a second-round 63 at Yas Links, Sky Sports reported, climbing back into contention before Saturday’s setbacks.
In a statement, the European Tour cited Rule 8.1b(4), which “permits a player to ground their club lightly right in front of or behind the ball” but notes that “a player is not allowed to press the club on the ground,” ESPN reported. After the penalty left him posting a 2-under 70, eight shots behind Laporta’s bogey-free opening 62, he added, “But overall, yeah, I shot really nice today.” He also said, “I have a good shot at it (Sunday), which is all I want,” acknowledging he was “a little rueful” at chances missed and adding, “I’m going to have to go out and shoot a low one, something in the mid to low 60s to get it done.”
Sunday’s Final Group Set
Rahm, Hatton and Laporta will play together in Sunday’s final group, the BBC reported. Adam Scott, bogey-free through three rounds, sits fifth at 15 under after a 66, the AP reported. The top 50 players from this week’s 70-man field advance to next week’s $10 million DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, the AP reported.
Hatton said, “Obviously final group tomorrow there’s a lot to play for,” adding, “Naturally we are going to want to beat each other. He briefly moved level with Rahm after holing his seventh birdie of the day on the 14th, but Rahm reclaimed the outright lead on the 15th with a curling 20-foot birdie putt, the BBC reported. Laporta, 36, opened with a bogey-free 62 and produced another bogey-free round Saturday while bidding for a first DP World Tour title. Matthew Jordan and Spain’s David Puig are tied at 14 under after third-round 69s, and the 70 players are competing for a $9 million purse.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What penalty did Rory McIlroy receive at the Abu Dhabi Championship?
Officials assessed McIlroy a two-shot penalty in the first round for improving his lie on the par-4 12th hole, citing Rule 8.1b(4), which prohibits pressing the club on the ground, ESPN reported.
What is Jon Rahm chasing with a win on Sunday?
Rahm is seeking his first solo tournament victory since the 2023 Masters, the BBC reported.
Who advances to the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai?
The top 50 players from the 70-man field at the Abu Dhabi Championship qualify for next week’s season-ending event in Dubai, the Associated Press reported.
Earlier coverage: Jon Rahm Leads Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship After Three Rounds