Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship, Digi Mart USA News: Jon Rahm takes a one-shot lead into the final round of the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship, with Tyrell Hatton in a tie for second with Francesco Laporta and Rory McIlroy two off the lead.
McIlroy, chasing a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title, and coming off the back of carding a career-high 11 birdies in his second round, had shared the lead at one stage before bogeying the par-three 17th. His five-under 67 also included a double-bogey six at the 10th, which interrupted a streak of seven birdies from the Northern Irishman between holes seven and 14.
Rahm sits on 18 under after a six-under 66 on Saturday at Yas Links GC, one clear of Hatton and Laporta, who each carded a 67. Adam Scott continued his bogey-free tournament with a 66 to sit 15 under in fifth place, one shot behind McIlroy.
It leaves three Masters champions in the top five of the leaderboard, with Rahm (2023), McIlroy (2025, 2026) and Scott (2013) all in the mix going into the final day. The two-week playoffs on the DP World Tour saw 70 players enter the $9m Abu Dhabi Championship before the 50 top-ranked players advance to the $10m finals event in Dubai next week.
McIlroy is currently projected to rise to No 2 in the Road to Dubai rankings, behind Eugenio Chacarra, who fired a five-under 67 on Saturday to find himself tied for 29th in Abu Dhabi at eight under.
