A six‑under‑par 66 on Saturday lifted Jon Rahm a single stroke clear of his rivals as the Abu Dhabi Championship heads into a decisive Sunday showdown.
Key points
- Jon Rahm leads the Abu Dhabi Championship by one stroke heading into Sunday’s final round.
- Rory McIlroy must shoot a low‑60s round to close the gap with Rahm.
- Tyrrell Hatton and Francesco Laporta are positioned to challenge for the title.
- The tournament is part of the DP World Tour and marks Rahm’s first solo win pursuit since his 2023 Masters victory.
Spain’s Jon Rahm entered the final day of the Abu Dhabi Championship with a one‑shot lead after posting a six‑under‑par 66 at Yas Links on Saturday, moving him to 18 under for the tournament.
England’s Tyrrell Hatton and Italy’s Francesco Laporta had both carded 67s, sharing the overnight lead before Rahm’s surge, while Rory McIlroy, the reigning Masters champion, sat in fourth place on 16 under after a 67 of his own.
Rahm's decisive third round
McIlroy, who rebounded from a two‑shot penalty in the opening round, rattled off 11 birdies in a second‑round 63 and eight more in the third round, but a double‑bogey on the 10th and a dropped shot on the 17th left him two strokes shy of the lead. He warned that a “mid to low 60s” round would be required to catch Rahm.
Hatton, who briefly tied Rahm after a seventh birdie on the 14th, said the final group on Sunday would be a “head‑to‑head” battle and that he hopes to start well and put pressure on the Spaniard. Laporta also posted a bogey‑free round, keeping himself in the mix as he seeks his first DP World Tour title.
McIlroy's comeback effort
Australian Adam Scott remained unbeaten through three rounds, moving to fifth place on 15 under with a 66, while England’s Matthew Jordan and Spain’s David Puig lingered a shot further back after solid third‑round performances.
Reader questions
When is the final round of the Abu Dhabi Championship?
The final round is scheduled for Sunday, with Rahm, Hatton and Laporta set to play together.
What does Jon Rahm need to do to secure the win?
Rahm will need to maintain or extend his one‑stroke advantage, likely by posting another low‑60s score, as his competitors are within striking distance.
Source: bbc.com
