Jon Rahm won the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship on 8 November 2026, finishing two shots clear of Tyrrell Hatton with Rory McIlroy in third. It was his 11th DP World Tour title and his first since April 2023, when he won The Masters. It was also his first event since leaving LIV Golf, and the win puts him back in the hunt for the Race to Dubai.
How Jon Rahm won the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship
Rahm closed with a final round of 67, five under par, to finish at 23 under. When he made the turn on Sunday he was still sharing the lead with three other players, according to Golf Channel. Over the closing holes he came out on top and held Hatton off by two.
McIlroy finished third at 19 under after a closing 69. He had made life harder for himself in the opening round, when he was given a two-shot penalty for improving his lie.
The Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship is part of the Rolex Series and was the first of two DP World Tour playoff events. For Rahm it was a sixth Rolex Series win, a record. Hatton was the only other player with five.
Why this win is a turning point after LIV Golf
Rahm, a two-time major winner and former world number one, moved to LIV Golf in 2023. He did well there, topping the individual standings in all three seasons and winning four events. On the DP World Tour, though, he did not win in those three seasons.
A month before Abu Dhabi he agreed a separation deal with LIV Golf, which is winding down its operations. Sky Sports describes the win as the start of the next page in his career, after the mental strain of that exit.
The build-up makes the result stand out even more. It was his first event in seven weeks. At his previous start, the BMW PGA Championship in September, he finished last, and in mid-October his fourth child, daughter Begona, was born. Afterwards Rahm said: "It's been quite a while since I've played good in a DP World Tour event."
What the Race to Dubai is and what Rahm still needs
The Race to Dubai is the DP World Tour's season-long ranking: whoever performs best across the whole season finishes on top. The season ends with the DP World Tour Championship, which is open only to the top 50 available players in the standings.
The win lifted Rahm 45 places, up to sixth. He is one of nine players who can still mathematically win the Race to Dubai. To do it, he has to win the DP World Tour Championship, which would be his fourth win in that event. On top of that, leader Eugenio Chacarra has to finish outside the top eight, and McIlroy's result also has to go his way.
If it all comes together, it would be his second Race to Dubai. Rahm himself had not expected to get the chance: "I didn't think I would ever have a chance to win it."
Playing golf in November and December in the Netherlands
While the pros wrap up their season, golfers in the Netherlands can keep playing through November and December, as long as the course is open. Winter weather decides that day by day. According to golf.nl, a course is always closed when there is snow. After a night frost, clubs often announce that they will check conditions again later in the day, and the current status is posted on the club's website.
In practice that means planning loosely and checking on the day. Look at the club's website in the morning to see whether the course is open, expect a later start after a frosty night, and book once you know play is possible.
Daylight is short, so a 9-hole course such as Golfbaan Kralingen or Golfbaan Harderwold fits neatly into an afternoon. If you want to see where a tee time is still free today, OneTee shows you and lets you book directly without a membership, for example at Golf Club Spaarnwoude with its 54 holes, Rhoon Golf Center, Crayestein Golf, Golf & Country Club Liemeer or The Links Valley.
Frequently asked questions
What did Jon Rahm win in Abu Dhabi?
Jon Rahm won the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship, a Rolex Series event. He finished at 23 under par, two shots ahead of Tyrrell Hatton, with Rory McIlroy third.
How many DP World Tour titles does Jon Rahm have?
The Abu Dhabi win was Rahm's 11th DP World Tour title. It was his first since he won The Masters in April 2023.
Can Jon Rahm still win the Race to Dubai?
Yes, he is one of nine players who still can. He needs to win the DP World Tour Championship while leader Eugenio Chacarra finishes outside the top eight, and McIlroy's result also matters.
Why is Jon Rahm playing on the DP World Tour again?
Rahm agreed a separation deal with LIV Golf, which is winding down its operations. Abu Dhabi was his first event after leaving.
Photo: Bryan Berlin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
