ABU DHABI — John Rahm completed a winning return to the European tour as he held off Tyrrell Hatton by two strokes on Sunday to win the Abu Dhabi Championship.
The Spaniard was playing in his first event on the DP Tour since leaving the bankrupt LIV Golf tour last month.
“It means a lot,” Rahm, who turns 32 on Tuesday, said. “I’m almost not letting myself believe it because it’s been quite a while since I played good in a DP World Tour event and my last showing, if we don’t count withdrawals, I think I finished last.
“So last to first, it’s a pretty good feeling.”
Rahm started the day one shot ahead of Englishman Hatton and Italian Francesco Laporta, with Rory McIlroy another shot back.
Rahm had three birdies going out and three more coming home.
After a bogey on the third, he did not drop another stroke, though he had a scare.
“As far as I’m concerned, apart from the tee-shot at 17 it was a pretty flawless back nine. It was really, really solid,” he said according to AFP.
“After everything that’s gone on and some poor play, battles mentally with the noise, to come back out after a little bit of rest and having a new addition to the family, it’s special,” added Rahm.
