Rahm begins career rebuild by winning in Abu Dhabi after holding off McIlroy and Hatton

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Jon Rahm fought off Ryder Cup teammates Rory McIlroy and Tyrrell Hatton to win the Abu Dhabi Championship on Sunday for his first European tour title in four years, marking a successful start to the Spaniard's career rebuild following the demise of LIV Golf.

Rahm shot 5-under 67 and was 23-under par for the week at Yas Links, two strokes clear of Hatton (68) and four ahead of McIlroy (69) in the first of the two season-ending playoff tournaments in the United Arab Emirates.

This was Rahm's first event in seven weeks, during which time his wife gave birth to their second daughter — their fourth child — and he set about finalizing a departure from LIV that will see him giving up millions of dollars owed to him.

With LIV this week announcing plans to wind down operations anyway, Rahm is sure to be heading back to the established tours for next season — and has a big win to bring with him for what he acknowledged was a new stage in his life.

“After everything that’s gone on," Rahm said, “and some poor play and some battles mentally with a lot of noise, to come back out after a bit of rest and being with the family, it’s quite special.”

His last victory on the European tour's regular circuit was the World Tour Championship in November 2022, which was followed by a green jacket at the Masters a few months later and then the world No. 1 ranking before a controversial move to LIV.

His peerless iron play this week suggests a return to his 2021-23 level, when he collected his two major titles. It was certainly too good for McIlroy and their rivals in an exciting final round at Yas Links.

At one stage early in the back nine, Rahm, McIlroy, Hatton and Francesco Laporta were tied for the lead on 20 under, only for Rahm to pull away with three birdies in a five-hole span from No. 11.

McIlroy's Sunday charge, which started with a birdie and an eagle on his first two holes of the day, slowed with a bogey at No. 15, while Laporta — chasing his first title — fell out of contention with a triple-bogey at the short par-3 13th. The Italian wound up shooting 72 and finished alone in fourth, six strokes behind Rahm.

Hatton, meanwhile, kept his card clean but couldn't make enough birdies to reel in Rahm, who walked down the par-5 18th with a two-shot lead and played it safe to make par.

“As far as I’m concerned, except the (tee) shot on No. 17, I played a pretty flawless round,” said Rahm, who banked a winner's check of $1.5 million. “It was really, really something."

Two former LIV players finishing 1-2 is perhaps a sign of things to come on the European tour, with many wanting to come back to their roots after the end of the breakaway circuit that once was fueled by Saudi cash.

McIlroy's disappointment at failing to win will have been slightly tempered by his surge in the season-long Race to Dubai standings.

With his third-place finish, the world No. 2 moved above Patrick Reed and into second place, behind only Eugenio Chacarra with one event left — the World Tour Championship in Dubai starting Thursday.

Chacarra, a 26-year-old Spaniard in his first full season on the tour, finished tied for 22nd this week and Reed tied for 43rd in the 70-man field.

McIlroy is almost 534 points behind Chacarra, with 2,000 on offer for the winner next week and then 1,335 up for grabs for second place and 752 for third place.

McIlroy is looking to join Colin Montgomerie on a record eight Race to Dubai titles. In the Scot’s day, it was called the Order of Merit.

As for this week in Abu Dhabi, getting a two-shot penalty — turning a double-bogey 6 to an 8 — on Thursday hurt McIlroy's chances. Still, he was encouraged by his performance.

“It was a week where I had my chances,” McIlroy said.

“I would have loved to have won the tournament, but enough positive signs to feel good going into next week.”

Rahm moved up to No. 6 in the Race to Dubai standings so there is an outside chance that he could win the season-long race. One thing is for sure: he would need to win on the Earth course next week to have any hope.

“Actually gives me a little extra incentive next week,” he said. “I really didn’t think I was going to have a chance. Those are better odds than I expected.”

See AP’s full golf coverage here

Jon Rahm of Spain, center, poses with the championship trophy after winning the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Jon Rahm of Spain celebrates on the 18th green after winning the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Jon Rahm of Spain poses with the championship trophy after winning the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Tyrrell Hatton of England lines up a putt on the first green during the final round of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland watches his shot on the seventh hole as spectators applaud during the final round of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts on the seventh hole during the final round of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Jon Rahm of Spain plays his second shot on the seventh hole during the final round of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Jon Rahm of Spain lines up a putt on the seventh green during the final round of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (AP) — Kyle Larson is on the verge of becoming a three-time NASCAR champion.

Larson needs nine points in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday to clinch his third Cup Series title in six years. He gets one point for starting the race and could secure the Bill France Cup long before the checkered flag drops on the 400-mile race.

Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin are the only other drivers who could win the championship, but they are ultimate underdogs.

Larson is looking to become the first back-to-back champion since Jimmie Johnson in 2010; Johnson won five in a row beginning in 2006.

The 34-year-old Larson also would become the 11th driver in NASCAR history with three Cup titles, joining a list that includes seven-time champs Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt and Johnson. Jeff Gordon has four. Lee Petty, David Pearson, Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, Tony Stewart and Joey Logano have three.

Larson put himself in position for his latest title with a historic postseason, which is dubbed NASCAR’s Chase for the championship. He won three of the previous nine playoff events and finished in the top 10 in eight of them.

He enjoyed a similar finish while winning it all in 2021, his first season at powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports. He won four of the last five races — including the finale at Phoenix Raceway — while still dealing with questions about how his time ended at Chip Ganassi Racing.

His second title came in stunning fashion last year at Phoenix. He took advantage of a late caution — his crew put on two new tires instead of four — and leaped sentimental favorite Hamlin on pit road with two laps to go. Hamlin didn’t have enough time to catch Larson.

Larson’s third title would be far less shocking. Securing the title was so much of a slam dunk that Larson was the only Cup driver invited to NASCAR’s championship media day Thursday, leading to a parade event that Larson called awkward.

The biggest question was how Larson and his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports team would handle the pressure. Larson put that to rest during qualifying Saturday.

“They were debating on if a hot dog is a sandwich and if cereal is a soup,” Larson said. “So I would say they were pretty relaxed. I was surprised by all that.”

Where did Larson weigh in on the discussion?

“The hot dog is not a sandwich and absolutely cereal is not a soup,” he said.

A better question: Would a third Cup title put Larson in the conversation as one of the best drivers in motorsports history?

Parnelli Jones, Mario Andretti, A.J. Foyt and Stewart are widely regarded as the best of the best, guys who proved their worth by winning across varying racing series.

Jones won in sprint cars and stock cars around the same time he won the 1963 Indianapolis 500. Andretti won four IndyCar titles, the 1967 Daytona 500 and the 1969 Indianapolis 500. Foyt won four Indy 500s and the 1972 Daytona 500. Stewart won the 1997 IndyCar championship, three Cup Series titles and currently is racing dragsters at the top level, the NHRA.

Larson raced twice in the Indy 500 and has won just about every dirt-racing event around the world.

“I think he’s the best race car driver in the world," retired NASCAR driver and current NBC Sports race analyst Jeff Burton said. “He wins in everything he does, and they’re all completely different cars and tracks. And he’s racing against the best in every discipline.”

See AP’s full auto racing coverage here

Kyle Larson films with a crew in front of the championship trophy, the Bill France Cup, during media day for the NASCAR Championship, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Palm trees rise behind a NASCAR sign as crews prepare ahead of NASCAR Championship weekend, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Kyle Larson speaks to journalists during media day for the NASCAR Championship, Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)