Jon Rahm ended a seven-week absence from competitive golf by winning the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship, his first DP World Tour title since The Masters in April and his sixth Rolex Series victory overall. The Spaniard edged out Ryder Cup teammates Tyrrell Hatton and Rory McIlroy by two shots to claim his 11th DP World Tour title.
Rahm returned to the circuit following a difficult stretch that included a last-place finish at the BMW PGA Championship in September. At that time, his focus was split by the impending birth of his fourth child, with his wife Kelley welcoming their daughter Begona in mid-October. Rahm admitted the personal circumstances weighed heavily on him during the BMW event.
“From last [BMW PGA Championship] to first is a pretty good feeling,” Rahm said after the Abu Dhabi win. “To battle it out with Tyrrell [Hatton], who is the other man with five [Rolex Series wins], to break the tie and get it done – he's a good friend of mine and I know how good a competitor he is. It’s a special week.”
Rahm has also recently clarified his position regarding LIV Golf, the controversial league he joined three seasons ago. Despite topping individual standings and winning four LIV events, Rahm has now agreed to separate from LIV Golf as it winds down operations. His attorney told a bankruptcy court last month that Rahm would not participate in any proposed “LIV 2.0.” This move leaves Rahm free to compete more regularly on the DP World Tour.
“Whether you like to admit it or not, it [LIV Golf] was a lot of extra noise going on in general, and that was still not the most important part of my life,” Rahm said. “In the sense of the impending birth of our daughter was something that was weighing heavily on me at Wentworth, I’m not going to lie, I didn’t want to miss it. It was a little bit more difficult to perhaps play and think throughout the golf course [when] it felt a little bit cloudy in a sense.”
Rahm described feeling a newfound calm during the week in Abu Dhabi, which helped his performance. “The calmness I felt this week has been enjoyable all week, honestly. I felt incredible calm, even when things didn’t go anyway. Not much seemed to bother me, and probably the main reason why I was able to perform the way I have.”
Asked if the end of LIV Golf marked the close of a chapter in his career, Rahm said, “One could say that. After everything that’s gone on, and some poor play and some battles mentally with a lot of noise, to come back out after a bit of rest and having a new addition to the family, it’s quite special.”
Rahm has not yet discussed a possible return to the PGA Tour, but his victory in Abu Dhabi keeps alive his hopes of winning the DP World Tour's Race to Dubai this season. He is one of nine players still in mathematical contention but will need to win the DP World Tour Championship for a fourth time and rely on favourable results from Eugenio Chacarra and Rory McIlroy.
“I didn’t think I would ever have a chance to win it [Race to Dubai],” he said. “I’m very excited – it actually gives me a little extra incentive next week. Those are better odds than I expected so looking forward to it and hopefully I can get my fourth one [DP World Tour Championship].”
The DP World Tour Championship begins next week, featuring the top 50 players in the Race to Dubai standings. Rahm’s performance in Abu Dhabi has positioned him as a serious contender in the season finale.
According to Sky Sports.