Jon Rahm held off former LIV Golf team-mate Tyrrell Hatton and Masters champion Rory McIlroy to assert an two-shot victory on the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship.
Rahm blended six birdies with a lone bogey throughout a five-under 67 at Yas Hyperlinks GC, lifting him to 23 underneath on his match debut and shutting out a file sixth Rolex Collection victory.
The Spaniard took a one-shot lead into the ultimate day at Yas Hyperlinks GC and briefly misplaced his in a single day benefit with Hatton, McIlroy and Francesco Laporta all main at numerous factors throughout an eventful Sunday.
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Rory McIlroy obtained off to an ideal begin on the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship, holing an eagle putt from off the inexperienced on his second gap
Hatton completed second forward of McIlroy, who made a birdie-eagle begin to his ultimate spherical earlier than ending 4 strokes again in third – his eleventh top-three end in 15 begins in Abu Dhabi, with Laporta ending in fourth spot on 17 underneath.
McIlroy moved above Patrick Reed into second and have become Eugenio Chacarra’s closest challenger within the season-long standings, whereas Rahm’s victory – his first since departing LIV Golf – retains him in rivalry to win the Race to Dubai.
How Rahm beat Ryder Cup team-mates to victory
McIlroy – enjoying within the penultimate group – made the dream begin to his ultimate spherical when he drove the inexperienced on the 378-yard par-four first and two-putted for birdie, then holed a putt from practically 50 toes to eagle the par-five second.
The Northern Irishman dropped a shot on the par-four third, the place Rahm undid his opening-hole birdie by discovering two fairway bunkers and making bogey, as Laporta pulled forward after posting two birdies in his first three holes.
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McIlroy surprised his enjoying associate Adam Scott by driving the primary inexperienced on the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship
Rahm arrange a close-range birdie on the fifth and holed from 25 toes so as to add one other on the subsequent, as Hatton additionally made back-to-back positive aspects, just for Laporta to make the most of the par-five seventh and pull degree with the Spaniard.
McIlroy cancelled out a bogey on the sixth by birdieing the following however was nonetheless two behind till he began his again 9 with successive birdies, making it a three-way tie on the prime.
McIlroy wanted a victory this week to maneuver above Eugenio Chacarra within the Race to Dubai standings
Rahm and Laporta edged again forward with two-putt birdies on the par-five eleventh, earlier than a two-shot swing subsequent noticed Rahm convert from shut vary as his enjoying associate made bogey.
Laporta’s title problem ended with a triple-bogey on the par-three thirteenth, whereas McIlroy skilled a chilly putter on the again 9 and noticed his hopes dashed when he missed from 5 toes to save lots of par on the fifteenth.
Rahm performed alongside Hatton and Francesco Laporta on the ultimate day
Rahm tidied up from 4 toes to match the birdie of Hatton on the fifteenth, conserving him two forward of the Englishman with three to play, with pars over the closing three holes sufficient to finish a primary DP World Tour win since earlier than he joined LIV Golf.
“It has been fairly some time since I’ve performed good in a DP World Tour occasion!” Rahm admitted. “So far as I am involved, besides the shot on 17, I performed a reasonably flawless again 9.
“After every part that is gone on, and a few poor play, and a few battles mentally, with plenty of noise, to come back again out [and win] after slightly little bit of relaxation after having a brand new child, it is fairly particular.”
McIlroy rues missed probabilities however boosts Race to Dubai hopes
Race to Dubai chief Chacarra ended tied-Twenty second and Patrick Reed completed tied-Forty third, permitting McIlroy to maneuver inside 533.93 factors of No 1 spot and keep his push for a record-equalling eighth Order of Advantage title.
McIlroy is seeking to match Colin Montgomerie’s all-time file
“It was per week the place I felt like I had my probabilities,” McIlroy mentioned. “Particularly right now, birdieing 10 and 11 on the again to get tied for the lead, then I had two good probabilities on 12 and 13 and did not make these. Needed to scramble for par on 14 after which I simply could not preserve my momentum going.
“It was week. I noticed some encouraging indicators within the recreation. I’ll be in that ultimate group going out on Thursday. I clearly would have liked to have received the match, however sufficient constructive indicators to be ok with going into subsequent week.”
McIlroy and Eugenio Chacarra might be grouped collectively on the DP World Tour Championship
On the problem of holding off McIlroy, Chacarra mentioned: “It [Race to Dubai] is difficult. He is the No 2 participant on this planet and the No 1 in Europe and he is been doing it for a very long time. Clearly the chances are on him and he is the favorite, however we’ll play golf.
“We all know what I am able to when I’m enjoying good. There was plenty of good this week, however I simply must sharpen the bat to have an opportunity subsequent week.”
What’s subsequent?
The DP World Tour season reaches its climax subsequent week on the DP World Tour Championship, the place solely the highest 50 obtainable gamers within the Race to Dubai standings are eligible to compete.
Watch all 4 rounds of the DP World Tour Championship reside on Sky Sports activities, with protection of the opening spherical from 7am on Sky Sports activities Golf and Sky Sports activities Important Occasion. Get the newest Sky Sports activities offers or stream golf and extra sport with no contract.