Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton sit atop the leaderboard alongside Italy's Francesco Laporta, while Rory McIlroy is just one shot back entering the weekend at the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship ― the first of two playoff events rounding out the DP World Tour's 2026 season.
Both Rahm and Hatton recently departed from LIV Golf, which announced on Thursday, Nov. 5, it was shutting down and liquidating its assets after a lack of player commitment led its rescue investor to drop its bid to save the league. Neither player planned to participate in LIV Golf moving forward even if it had managed to survive.
One might think those developments would distract the pair from their business
on the golf course, but that hasn't been the case thus far in Abu Dhabi. Rahm posted 5-under 67 in the second round to follow up his 65 on the first day, while Hatton did the opposite, shooting 65 Friday after carding 67 in the opening round. They head to the weekend at 12 under for the tournament.
"Really happy how I've played," Hatton said. "Obviously, there's been a couple of mistakes. But overall, compared to where I've been at over the last month and a half, it's nice to put a couple of decent scores together again."
HATTON ALMOST HOLES OUT AND JOINS THE LEAD 😍#AbuDhabiChamps | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/wQ5lVnVNfB
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 6, 2026
Rahm's analysis of his own game echoed Hatton's.
"Pretty good play," Rahm said. "Only thing to take back would be just a couple of bad tee shots right now, feeling fairly comfortable otherwise. Just there's been a couple of swings off the tee that were unexpected. But hopefully I can fix that, but otherwise the play has been lovely."
Jon Rahm takes the lead! He makes a third birdie in four holes to move ahead 💪#AbuDhabiChamps | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/K6lFKlcLu4
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 6, 2026
McIlroy, meanwhile, stormed up the leaderboard Friday to the tune of 9-under 63, joining Adrian Meronk, Matthew Jordan and Sam Bairstow in a four-way tie for fourth at 11 under. McIlroy made a whopping 11 birdies in the second round, including five straight on Nos. 9-13.
"I did everything well again," McIlroy said. "I drove the ball well. I hit my irons well. I putted a little bit better. I saw a few more putts go in, which is something that I haven't been seeing for the last couple of months."
A birdie masterclass from Rory McIlroy 🐥
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) November 6, 2026
Eight birdies in his last 10 holes. #AbuDhabiChamps | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/AInGjGZvie
It was an impressive bounce-back effort for McIlroy after he made headlines Thursday when he was penalized two strokes for improving his lie, turning what could have been an opening-round 68 into a 70. If it weren't for that penalty, he'd be in the solo lead right now, but he's not letting it bother him.
"Before I left the course, I made peace with it. I didn't dwell on it or I didn't feel like I did anything wrong. But then at the same time, I said the video didn't look good, like the close-up of it," McIlroy said. "So, again, I just never wanted the perception, people feeling like I got away with something. I just wouldn't want that sitting with me. I'd much rather be two shots worse off than be called a cheat.
"So that's what I did, and I made peace with it. I went out today, it wasn't playing on my mind. I had a clear conscience, and I could just go and play. I played well enough to feel like I could play my way back into the tournament. I went out today and played a good round of golf and did get myself back into it."
McIlory is no stranger to contending in Abu Dhabi, but he has yet to hoist a trophy there. He's finished runner-up twice and third six different times.
A win this week would mark his 22nd career victory on the DP World Tour and with just one event remaining would put him in prime position to capture his fifth consecutive Race to Dubai title and the eighth of his career. He currently sits third in the season-long Race to Dubai standings, behind only Eugenio Chacarra and Patrick Reed, who are both well down the leaderboard after 36 holes in Abu Dhabi. Chacarra is 3 under and in a tie for 38th, while Reed is T-57 at 1 over.
"Give myself a great chance, and that's all I can ask for," McIlroy said.
Other notables still in the hunt for a victory in Abu Dhabi include Adam Scott (9 under, T-10), Tommy Fleetwood (8 under, T-12) and reigning PGA Champion Aaron Rai (6 under, T-20).
Nick Stavas is a digital producer and commerce writer for Golfweek. Follow him on X/Twitter (@nickstavas).
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton tied for lead, Rory McIlroy one back at DPWT playoffs in Abu Dhabi
