Jon Rahm fired a six-under 66 on Saturday to take a one-stroke lead at the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship. The Spaniard now sits at 18-under total, ahead of Tyrrell Hatton and Francesco Laporta. Rory McIlroy bogeyed the par‑three 17th hole.
Rahm admitted he would love a deal similar to the one Brooks Koepka received. He wants the tour to reopen the program that closed in early 2026. The PGA Tour CEO said in September that no such plans existed. Yet Rahm’s play on the course makes it hard for the league to ignore his talent. His eagle on the 11th hole helped spark the round that put him in front.
The Road Back to the PGA Tour
The path for Rahm to return is not clear. Now he faces a different situation than Koepka did. The Returning Member Program allowed only four players to apply at the start of the season. Koepka was the only one to use it.
Rahm spoke to reporters on Tuesday about his options. At the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship on Tuesday, “With the PGA Tour, things are a little bit different,” Rahm informed reporters. “I haven’t been able to speak to them yet. Until things are finalized, which should be hopefully soon, and then we’ll see.” He noted that he does not know what the future holds for him. “I don’t know what is in store for us. We know what they did with Brooks. This is different circumstances.”
Patrick Reed, who has played rights through the DP World Tour, thinks players should earn their way back. Reed called the question hard to answer. He believes if a player qualifies, they should be allowed to play. “Obviously with Jon’s resumé and everything, it’s one of those that obviously his team is going to be talking about the PGA Tour,” Reed said. “I’ve always enjoyed playing with Jon.”
Rahm still has a backup plan if the PGA Tour stays closed. He can play the full DP World Tour next year. “But it’s a pretty good safety net to have that I can play the DP World Tour next year, and if it comes to that, I’m really excited to play for a full year,” Rahm said. The option provides security while he waits for a deal.
McIlroy Fights to Stay in the Hunt
Rory McIlroy made 11 birdies in his second round, a career high on the DP World Tour. He shared the lead at one point before a mistake on the 17th hole. He also had a double-bogey on the 10th hole. These errors dropped him to solo fourth place.
McIlroy shot a five-under 67 on Saturday. He still believes he can win. “I played some really good golf out there, but also a little rough,” McIlroy said. “I felt like I had some really good momentum coming off the back of the front-nine birdie and then birdieing nine.” He described how a bunker shot went over the green. “The bunker shot came out a lot faster than I anticipated and went over the green, and I was sort of dead from there.”
He fought back after the double-bogey. McIlroy made birdies on the next four holes. “But then I fought back and made birdies on the next four holes, so it was a good bounce back,” he said. He feels he is close enough to win. “I kept myself within touching distance, and I’ve got a good shot at it tomorrow, which is all I want.”
Three Masters champions sit in the top five. Rahm won in 2023. McIlroy won in 2025 and 2026. Adam Scott won in 2013 and is now in fifth place at 15-under. Scott carded a bogey-free 66 to stay in the mix. The final round will be tough with all three trying to win.
Stakes of the Final Round
The DP World Tour two-week playoffs are approaching their conclusion. Seventy players entered the $9 million Abu Dhabi Championship. The top 50 ranked players will move to the $10 million finals in Dubai next week. This event determines who gets to the final stage of the season.
Eugenio Chacarra fired a five-under 67 on Saturday. He sits at eight-under and is tied for 29th. McIlroy is projected to rise to No. 2 in the Road to Dubai rankings. He would fall behind Chacarra if the standings hold.
Per Yahoo Sports, the leaderboard is packed with talent. Rahm leads by one stroke over Hatton and Laporta. McIlroy is one stroke behind those two. Adam Scott is one shot behind McIlroy.
The final round will be shown live on Sky Sports Golf starting at 6:30 a.m. on Sunday. Fans will watch to see if Rahm can hold off the field. They will also see if McIlroy can recover from his errors. The $9 million prize fund adds weight to every swing. The winner takes home a huge share of that money.
Jon Rahm’s eagle on the 11th hole was the key to his Saturday round. He used it to start a run of low scores. The 11th hole at Yas Links GC was where he made his move. That shot put him in the lead and changed the mood of the tournament.
The DP World Tour has seen many changes this year. LIV Golf is losing financial support after the 2026 season. This has led to players looking for other places to play. Rahm’s desire to return to the PGA Tour is part of this shift. His performance in Abu Dhabi makes the choice harder.
Rahm has won two majors and holds a strong resume. He is a fan favorite on both sides of the Atlantic. If the tour opens the door, he will walk through it. If not, he will play the DP World Tour and wait.
