Rahm Claims Abu Dhabi Championship After Four-Year Drought
The Spanish golfer defeated rivals from the dissolved LIV tour to secure his first European Tour title since 2022 and reset his career trajectory.
By Rebecca Svoboda ·
Jon Rahm won the Abu Dhabi Championship on Sunday, ending a four-year title drought on the European Tour. The Spanish golfer finished at 23-under par at Yas Links, finishing two strokes ahead of Tyrrell Hatton and four strokes ahead of Rory McIlroy. This victory marks the start of a new phase for Rahm following his departure from the LIV Golf tour.
Rahm shot 5-under 67 in the final round. He closed the week with a $1.5 million winner's check. The win comes just seven weeks after his last event, a break that coincided with the birth of his second daughter and his fourth child. During that time, Rahm finalized his exit from LIV, agreeing to give up millions of dollars in guaranteed payments.
LIV Golf announced plans this week to wind down its operations. This move positions Rahm for a return to the established tours for the next season. He cited the mental clarity gained from rest and family time as factors in his performance. Rahm described the win as special after a period of poor play and mental battles with public noise.
His iron play during the week signaled a return to his peak form from 2021 and 2023. Those years produced his two major championships and a world number one ranking. His last European Tour win before this event was the World Tour Championship in November 2022. That victory was followed by a Masters win and a move to LIV.
The final round featured a tight race on the back nine. At one point, Rahm, McIlroy, Hatton, and Francesco Laporta were tied for the lead at 20-under par. Rahm pulled ahead by making three birdies in a five-hole stretch starting at the 11th hole. McIlroy began the day with a birdie and an eagle but fell to a bogey at the 15th. Laporta, seeking his first title, hit a triple-bogey on the par-3 13th and finished fourth, six strokes back.
Hatton played a clean round but could not gain enough ground. He finished two strokes behind Rahm. Rahm managed a two-shot lead down the par-5 18th hole and played a safe shot to make par. He credited his round with being nearly flawless, noting only a difficult tee shot on the 17th.
The 1-2 finish by former LIV players suggests a shift in the European Tour. Many players are expected to return to the traditional circuit after the breakaway tour's decline. McIlroy's third-place finish improved his standing in the Race to Dubai. He moved past Patrick Reed to take second place in the standings.
Eugenio Chacarra leads the Race to Dubai. The 26-year-old Spaniard finished tied for 22nd this week. McIlroy trails Chacarra by nearly 534 points with one event remaining. The World Tour Championship in Dubai begins Thursday and offers 2,000 points for the winner. McIlroy is seeking his eighth Race to Dubai title, which would tie the record held by Colin Montgomerie.
A two-shot penalty on Thursday hindered McIlroy's chances in Abu Dhabi. He turned a double-bogey six into an eight on the card. He expressed satisfaction with his performance despite not winning. McIlroy said he had chances during the week and felt encouraged by the results heading into next week.
Rahm also moved up to sixth place in the Race to Dubai standings. He acknowledged that an outside chance remains for him to win the season-long race. To have any hope, he must win the World Tour Championship. Rahm said the improved odds provided extra incentive for the final event of the season.
