Jon Rahm made history at the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship, becoming the first player to win six Rolex Series events after securing a two-shot victory at Yas Links.
The Spaniard produced a superb 5-under-par 67 on Sunday to finish at 23-under-par, holding off the chasing field to claim another prestigious DP World Tour title.
The victory marks another significant milestone in Rahm’s career and give him an outside chance of winning the Race to Dubai at next week’s DP World Tour Championship, with the victory moving him into sixth place in the rankings.
The Spaniard previously shared the distinction of being the most successful Rolex Series player with Tyrrell Hatton, and the Ryder Cup team-mates were both in the hunt for further glory at Yas Links.
McIlroy remains in hunt for Race to Dubai title
They were in the final group alongside Francesco Laporta, with that trio and Rory McIlroy – who kept his dream of an eighth Race to Dubai title alive – briefly sharing the lead on the back nine before Rahm motored ahead to get to 23 under and two shots ahead of Hatton with his final-round 67.
McIlroy made a brilliant start by finding the green at the 378-yard first for an opening birdie before a huge eagle putt from the fairway at the next saw him climb to 19 under.
He was not alone at the top after Rahm’s own birdie at the first and the Spaniard was handed the outright lead when McIlroy bogeyed the third.
Laporta joined Rahm at the summit on 19 under with birdies at the first and third, but the Italian became the sole leader when his playing partner followed McIlroy by dropping a shot at the third.
Rahm rides the birdie train
Rahm showed his class with back-to-back birdies from the fifth to reclaim top spot at 20 under, with Laporta and Hatton, who matched the leader’s scoring run from the fifth, sat one behind. A birdie at the seventh saw Laporta sit alongside Rahm at 20 under as the pair shared a one-shot lead at the turn.
The leadership group increased to three when McIlroy rolled in birdies at the tenth and 11th and when Hatton also picked up a shot at the latter hole, four were tied at the top. Only for a matter of moments though, as Rahm and Laporta tapped up for gains at the same hole to nudge ahead to 21 under.
There was soon a two-shot swing at the 12th after Laporta found trouble and could not get up and down to save par, with Rahm taking full advantage with a birdie from short range. That left him at 22 under, but Laporta’s race was run when he triple-bogeyed the 13th to slip five behind.
Rahm produced a stunning approach at the 15th to ensure he took a stranglehold of the tournament as he tapped in for birdie. Hatton maintained the two-shot deficit when following suit, but Rahm kept his good friend at arm’s length by closing out with three straight pars to secure his 11th DP World Tour title.
Hatton signed for a 68 to claim solo second at 21 under and sealed his place at next week’s DP World Tour Championship. McIlroy climbed up to second on the Race to Dubai Rankings behind Eugenio Chanarra in his bid for a record-equalling eighth Harry Vardon Trophy with a third-placed finish at 19 under.
Laporta was two shots further back in fourth, with Spanish duo Angel Ayora and David Puig and Bernd Wiesberger at 16 under.
For all the scores from the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship click here.
Jon Rahm’s winning gear
Driver: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond Driver (10.5°)
Fairway Woods: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke HL (16°, 18°)
Irons: Callaweay Apex Pro (4), Callaway Apex TCB (5-10)
Wedges: Callaway JAWS Raw (52°, 56°), Callaway Opus SP Wedge (60°)
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG Rossie S
Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour X