Rahm, Hatton and Laporta share Abu Dhabi Championship lead

Ryder Cup team-mates Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton reeled in Francesco Laporta to share the lead heading into the weekend at the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship.

Italian Laporta had led after a brilliant 62 on day one but a 70 in round two at Yas Links left the door ajar and close friends Hatton and Rahm took advantage.

Hatton carded a 65, two shots fewer than Rahm, and the pair will now both head into the weekend at 12 under alongside Laporta looking for a record sixth Rolex Series victory.

Event debutant Rahm, playing in the final group of the day, made an impressive start as he quickly moved to the top of the leaderboard with birdies on the second, third and fifth holes. His early momentum, however, was followed by an eventful spell over the next seven holes, during which he mixed four birdies with three bogeys in a fluctuating round.

Despite the setbacks, Rahm stayed in contention and finished on a high, picking up another shot with a two-putt birdie on the final hole.

“It's going to be hard to ever find a golf course in better shape than this one,” said Rahm.

“It's phenomenal what they've been able to do. The greens are all perfect. When you give some of the best players in the world perfect greens and fairways that are firm, unless the wind conditions get crazy, you're going to have some close scores, and that's what we're seeing on this course here.

“Overall, the golf course can be quite tricky, especially with certain pin locations, slopes. You can put yourself in difficult spots. But it's been quite calm, and that's what's allowed us to be aggressive,” he added.

Laporta endured a roller-coaster round, dropping a shot on the third before responding with a superb hat-trick of consecutive birdies from the seventh.

He carried that momentum into the back nine, despite a bogey-birdie start, but a double bogey on the 14th threatened to derail his progress. However, he showed resilience to bounce back with timely birdies on the 15th and the final hole, finishing his round strongly.

"End of the day, it was a good day," he said. "I didn't start very well, I was one over after six. Then I made three birdies in a row, a few mistakes on the back nine, but few really in the last four.

"I'm quite happy about how I finished but still a lot of golf to play."

Rory McIlroy charged into contention with a second round featuring 11 birdies.

McIlroy shot the round of the day to haul himself back into the mix after receiving a two-shot penalty on Thursday for improving his lie on a hole where he made a double-bogey.

"I'd much rather be two shots worse off than be called a cheat," said McIlroy, reflecting on the incident at the 12th hole during his opening round at Yas Links.

"I made peace with it and at least I went out today and it wasn't playing on my mind. I had a clear conscience and I could just go and play."

The six-time major champion carded a nine-under 63 in round two, picking up seven birdies on the back nine to bolster his chances of winning a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title.

"It wasn't like I got off to the greatest of starts today, but then obviously I got it going," said McIlroy, who overcame a bogey on the first hole before finding his groove.

"I went out today and played a good round of golf and did get myself back into the tournament," he added. "I've given myself a great chance."

Alongside McIlroy one shot back were Englishmen Matthew Jordan and Sam Bairstow, as well as Poland's Adrian Meronk, a recent winner at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

The two-week postseason playoffs on the European tour began with the 224th-ranked Laporta shooting 10 under to take a three-stroke lead over three players. Laporta managed just a 70 on Friday.

The subplot in this next-to-last event of the 2026 season is the fight for the Race to Dubai title, which crowns the No. 1 player on the European tour each year.

It looks to be down to McIlroy, Patrick Reed (71) and Eugenio Chacarra (71), the current leader in the standings.