Jon Rahm leads in Abu Dhabi and continues to help Chacarra's dream

In the collaborative economy that Spanish sport is starring in this weekend, Alcaraz puts Jodar in the ATP Finals and Jon Rahm boosts Eugenio López-Chacarra's chances of winning to be champion of the DP World Tour next week in Dubai as only among the Spanish he did in 2019 and Seve Ballesteros did on six occasions.

On a sunny Saturday in Abu Dhabi, without severe wind and flags to make a result if necessary, Jon nailed the golf on the second nine holes. He dispatched them in 31 strokes, with three birdies and an eagle - a 9-meter putt - to sign a resounding 66, one more than Ángel Ayora had signed hours before, protagonist of a good climb on the day of the move, whose final reward could be a ticket to the PGA Tour in seven days. The young man from San Roque shared the best lap of the day with Ding.

Jon, who had dedicated more time to the bottles than to the irons in this long month and a half, announced at the beginning of the week that his game was rusty, but contact with Yas Links, a course that rewards those who hit the fairway more than others, was enough to catch his pulse again and stand with 18 holes remaining at 18 under par and with a stroke advantage over his former teammate in the extinct Legion XIII, Tyrrell Hatton and the Italian Francesco Laporta.

It was especially on the second nine where he made the turn. He was a little hesitant at the beginning, but he knew how to take advantage of the two par 5s to alleviate the bogey on hole 4 (par 3) because he didn't hit the green. Taking advantage of the long holes, a facet that is sometimes difficult for the Biscayan in tournaments, is a big determining factor on courses like the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship. Here in three days he accumulates -11 in 12 holes. He missed the 18th by half an inch, at dusk, to have extended more distance.

Meanwhile, Rory Mcilroy, who has won five times in the desert, but not in this emirate, shot 67 and is fourth, two behind Jon. The Northern Irishman, the world number 2, is pursuing his eighth Order of Merit now called Race to Dubai with Chacarra as his main opponent. Rory has 25 birdies in Abu Dhabi. I had never done so many on the DP World Tour after Saturday. A double bogey on the 10th took away his lead.

The Madrid native, meanwhile, forgot the problems with the driver he had had this week and shot another 67 to move up to twenty-ninth place. Chacarra regretted that some bogey, like the one on the 15th, occurred after having hit the second shot from the center of the fairway, but he ended up satisfied and exuding humility. "I realized when I played with Rory on Thursday that there are 36 players ahead of me in the rankings and that I have to keep working and improving to get to where he is."