Jon Rahm wins the title in Abu Dhabi on his return to the European circuit

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Abu Dhabi (AFP) – Spanish golfer Jon Rahm completed his return to the European circuit with victory by winning the Abu Dhabi Championship by two strokes ahead of Tyrrell Hatton on Sunday.

First modification: 11/08/2026 - 16:29

Rahm played his first DP World Tour tournament since leaving the bankrupt LIV Golf circuit last month.

"It means a lot," said Rahm, who turns 32 on Tuesday.

"I can hardly believe it because it's been a while since I last played well in a DP World Tour tournament and in my last appearance, if you don't count the withdrawals, I think I finished last. So from last to first, it's a pretty good feeling," he joked.

Rahm started the day with a lead over Englishman Hatton and Italian Francesco Laporta, and two over Rory McIlroy.

After briefly giving up the lead after McIlroy started with a birdie and an eagle, Rahm regained it on the third hole and never let it go, although he had to share it for a stretch.

There was a four-way tie in the lead with Laporta, McIlroy and Hatton until the 11th hole.

Laporta lost three shots in the next two holes and Rahm escaped definitively with birdies at 12 and 15 to sign a final round of 67 strokes and a total of 265, 23 under par.

Hatton carded a 68 to finish within two strokes and secure his place in next week's World Tour Championship in Dubai.

McIlroy finished two more strokes away and climbed to second place in the DP World Tour standings, behind Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra, who finished 22nd.

The Northern Irishman is seeking an eighth Harry Vardon Trophy, which would equal the record for awards for the best player of the season on the European circuit.

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