Rahm Chases DP World Tour Finals Spot in Abu Dhabi
Jon Rahm returns to competition at the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship weeks after the birth of his fourth child.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Golf
Jon Rahm competes at the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship at Yas Links, his first event since welcoming daughter Begoña with wife Kelley in October. Rahm sits 51st on the Race to Dubai Rankings and needs a strong week to reach the top 50 and qualify for the DP World Tour Championship.
Why it matters
Only the top 50 on the Race to Dubai Rankings qualify for the season finale, so Rahm's result this week could decide whether he plays in Dubai. His return also follows a missed start at the Open de España presented by Madrid, the first event he has skipped in his career.
Rahm has won three of his five Rolex Series titles at Jumeirah Golf Estates, and he is a 2023 Masters champion and former World Number One. His current 51st ranking places him one spot outside the qualifying range for the season finale.
The players
Jon Rahm
Spanish golfer and 2023 Masters champion who is a former World Number One and has won five Rolex Series titles.
The details
Rahm missed the Open de España because of its proximity to Kelley's due date, and his time at home in Phoenix was limited by overseeded Arizona courses. He now returns to competition in Abu Dhabi, with the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai the following week.
Timeline
October 2026: Daughter Begoña is born to Jon Rahm and Kelley.
Week of November 3, 2026: Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship is played at Yas Links.
Week following the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship: DP World Tour Championship is held in Dubai.
Season Trajectory
The DP World Tour's Race to Dubai season finale admits only the top 50 on the rankings, which turns each early-season event into a qualification test. Rahm's return from paternity leave with a 51st-place ranking places him at the edge of that cutoff.
Rahm's finish in Abu Dhabi will decide whether he reaches the top 50 and qualifies for the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. Fantasy and betting markets tied to his participation in the season finale depend on that result.
The takeaway
Rahm's return shows how a single week can determine qualification for a tour's season finale. Readers following the Race to Dubai should watch the rankings closely as the top-50 cutoff approaches.
What happens next
Rahm's final qualifying position for the DP World Tour Championship will be determined by his result at the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship and the Race to Dubai Rankings that follow.
Further reading
For more on the season race, see the Golf section for rankings and tournament coverage.
