Rory McIlroy rues double-bogey as Jon Rahm leads heading into final round in Abu Dhabi
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Rory McIlroy rues double-bogey as Jon Rahm leads heading into final round in Abu Dhabi

By November 7, 2026

Rory McIlroy is two shots behind in the Abu Dhabi Championship (AP)

Two-time major champion Jon Rahm shot a six-under-par 66 to give himself the outright lead heading into the final day of the Abu Dhabi Championship.

After a slow start, the 31-year-old Spaniard turned up the heat on the back nine and went five-under thru nine holes, hitting an eagle between a pair of birdies on holes 10, 11 and 12 at Yas Links.

He finished a shot in front of Englishman Tyrell Hatton and Italian Francesco Laporta, who are sitting on 17-under after rounds of 67 on day three.

Jon Rahm holds the outright lead in Abu Dhabi heading into the final round (Getty)
Jon Rahm holds the outright lead in Abu Dhabi heading into the final round (Getty)

Rory McIlroy enjoyed a brilliant second day in Abu Dhabi and kept himself firmly in contention heading into the final day after going five-under for his third round – two shots behind leader Rahm.

McIlroy hit eight birdies on day three but will be disappointed after a double-bogey on the 10th, which stopped him from finishing level with leader Rahm.

The two-time Masters winner was pleased with the way he fought back, and said: “I played some really good golf out there but I’m also a little rueful. I felt like I had some really good momentum coming off the back of the front nine.

“Just the bunker shot came out a lot faster than I anticipated, and then over the green and it was sort of dead from there. I followed another poor shot with another mistake at the third and ended up making a mess and made double.

“But I fought back and made birdies on the next four holes. So it was a good bounce back. Overall, a good day.

“If I can just limit the mistakes, there’s enough good golf. There’s enough birdies. There’s enough opportunities. I can play a clean round of golf tomorrow, I won’t be too far away.”

Adam Scott sits on his own in fifth while David Puig and Englishman Matthew Jordan are a shot further back on 14-under.

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/rory-mcilroy-rues-double-bogey-152211412.html

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