Rahm grabs lead, McIlroy stays in hunt at Abu Dhabi Championship

Jon Rahm produced a roaring back nine to surge into a one-shot lead at the 2026 Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship.

The two-time Major Champion went out in the final group after sharing the lead with Tyrrell Hatton and Francesco Laporta and despite a slow start to his third round, he burst into life after the turn.

Rahm went birdie-eagle-birdie from the tenth which catapulted him to the top in his brilliant 66 as he kept his playing partners at arm’s length at 18 under.

He has five Rolex Series stars to his name and will hope to get his name on the trophy at Yas Links to move one ahead of good friend and rival Hatton.

“It was a good day overall,” said Rahm.

“Just Holes 4, 5, and 6 got away from me for a second. A couple of bad swings, one bogey and was able to minimise the damange on the other two. From then on, I played some decent golf, I would say all day, except those three holes. I was in a good position on every single hole with a chance for birdie.

“Fantastic round. Wishing I would have hit a couple better putts in the last two holes - just misread those two putts. But overall, obviously very good golf.”

Laporta was not fazed and had a tap-in birdie at the fourth after nearly aceing the par-three hole to regain the lead.

Hatton showcased his brilliant iron play to record his third birdie of the day at the sixth, climbing back up to the summit alongside Laporta at 15 under.

Hatton and Rahm are both locked on five Rolex Series titles apiece so there will be extra motivation for the 35-year-old, with a strong showing needed in order to reach next week’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship.

“It felt like a scruffy day to be honest. I didn’t feel overly comfortable at times so that was a little bit disappointing,” Hatton admitted.

“That being said, I feel like it’s probably the best I could have shot today, so I take that as a positive.

“Hopefully I feel better tomorrow and give myself more opportunities for birdies.

“I feel like nothing was great. It sort of feels like a weirdly disappointing day though it wasn’t.

“It’s just very different feelings from what I’ve had the last two days and you can’t play well every day, so hopefully that’s the bad one out of the way and I’ll be better tomorrow.”

Laporta and Hatton will once again play with Rahm in the final group on Sunday, with the pair one shot behind and Rory McIlroy in solo fourth at 16 under.

“I thought today could have been something similar as well,” said McIlroy, when asked whether a low round like his closing 62 last year was on the cards tomorrow.

“But yeah, there hasn’t been much wind. The course is in perfect condition. The pin positions were a little tougher today. I guess they felt like they were trying to protect the course a little bit and protect from some of the really low scores.

“But there’s low ones out there and I’m going to have to go out and shoot a low one, something in the mid to low 60s to get it done tomorrow, and that will be the goal.”

McIlroy is bidding for a fifth successive Race to Dubai title and record-equalling eighth in total. He trails Eugenio Chacarra and Patrick Reed in this season’s standings.

Chacarra is 10 shots off the pace in Abu Dhabi, while Reed lies on a distant one-under after three rounds.

Adam Scott continued his bogey-free tournament with a 66 to be 15 under in fifth place, one shot behind McIlroy.

That left three Masters winners in the top five on the leaderboard, with Rahm (2023 edition), McIlroy (2025, 2026) and Scott (2013).

The two-week playoffs on the European tour saw 70 players enter the $9 million Abu Dhabi Championship before 50 top-ranked players advance to the $10 million finals event next week in Dubai.

Away from the course, the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship, staged by the DP World Tour and Abu Dhabi Sports Council, offers a full programme of family entertainment and live music.