GOLF – JON Rahm produced an impressive back nine to surge into a one-shot lead yesterday at the 2026 Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship in the UAE.
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 10th and added another gain at the 15th to catapult to the top at 18 under with a brilliant round of 66.
The Spaniard has five Rolex Series wins 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.
Laporta and Hatton will once again play with Rahm in the final group today with both reaching the summit at points throughout the day. They sit one shot back at 17 under par, with Laporta going bogey-free and Hatton mixing six birdies and one dropped shot in their rounds of 67.
“It was a good day overall,” said Rahm yesterday. “Just holes four, five, and six got away from me for a second. A couple of bad swings, one bogey, and I was able to minimise 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. But overall, obviously very good golf.”