Jon Rahm admitted posting ‘a very good score’ of a seven-under par tally to be sharing second place heading to the second round of the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship.
The Spaniard didn’t drop a shot in signing for a seven-under-par 65 to be sharing second and three shots adrift of Italian Francesco Laporta on the Yas Links layout in the UAE capital.
“Obviously a very good score”, said Rahm in playing the course for a first time.
“I think the highlight today was my iron game. Very good with the irons. Gave myself plenty of chances and obviously holed a few.
“I would say, though, I got away with a couple of bad swings. Had a tee shot on 3, and then up the middle of fairway, a tee shot on 11, being able to find that and have a birdie putt.
“So a few bad swings that I got away with. But overall, yeah, I shot really nice today”.
RAMBO PRETTY CHUFFED WITH OPENING 65 ….
As @JonRahmOfficial all smiles after grabbing a share of 2nd on his debut in @ADGolfChamps @ROLEX
“A very good score. I think the highlight today was my iron game. Very good with the irons. Gave myself plenty of chances and obviously holed a few.
“I would say, though, I got away with a couple of bad swings. Had a tee shot on 3, and then up the middle of fairway, a tee shot on 11, being able to find that and have a birdie putt.
“So a few bad swings that I got away with. But overall, yeah, I shot really nice today”.
Rahm tied with Bernd Wiesberger & Sam Bristow in second place, three adrift of Italy’s Francesco Laporta @lapo10
Getty
✅ @TOURMISS
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) November 5, 2026
Rahm shares second place at eight-under with Bernd Wiesberger and Sam Bairstow. Aside from Wiesbergeer, both Rahm and Bairstow’s effort was a first round on the Yas Links layout.
Rahm’s score could easily have been lower given he was five-under through nine holes ahead of birdieing the final two holes to join Bairstow and the pair being joined by Wiesberger.
“I think sometimes it can be a blessing, just not knowing where some of the trouble may be, right? You just kind of focus on what you can see,” said Rahm,
“I think sometimes it helps to not be overly aggressive. On the hole like 10, I think it’s easy to maybe want to hit driver, but not quite comfortable with the lines, just lay it out, but giving myself a chance. And overall just trust in your feel more than what you’ve seen in the past. It can be a blessing.
“Other times, especially around the greens, just not knowing how the ball can react. A hole like 17 today, knowing how difficult that pin is, and basically knowing you having hit it close may be beneficial if you know how to play it.
“But as far as my experience goes, sometimes just not overcomplicating things is what makes it a little bit easier, but a lot of work to do Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday to get comfortable enough with all the lines off the tee.”
Laporta’s effort was all class holing out for an eagle ‘3’ at the par-five seventh hole and also managing to birdie eight other holes in a 10-under 62, one shy of the course record.
“I mean, today, everything was in perfect, like, shape,” said Laporta.
“So my short game was really good, so I just start to make some putts from like No. 6 on.
“So, yeah, I mean, long game was pretty good. I had a lot of opportunities. So just enjoy the round, enjoy the place. I mean, the course is amazing. The ball is running so good on the greens, probably the best greens of the year.”
