Sunday’s heavyweight battle is a window into 2027

Sean Zak writes for Golf that the star-studded DP World Tour leaderboard in Abu Dhabi offers a preview of what golf will look like in 2027. Jon Rahm holds the 54-hole lead ahead of Tyrrell Hatton, Rory McIlroy, and Adam Scott. With LIV Golf shuttering, former LIV players are increasingly turning to the European circuit to compete for Race to Dubai points and secure PGA Tour access.

Zak highlights that Rahm is making his mandatory fourth DP World Tour start of the season to preserve eligibility for the upcoming Ryder Cup. Meanwhile, Hatton requires a strong finish to qualify for the DP World Tour Championship finale. The author expects prominent figures like Rahm, Hatton, Sergio Garcia, and potentially Bryson DeChambeau to regularly boost European fields moving into 2027.