Francesco Laporta surged to a commanding lead after the first round of the Abu Dhabi Aldar Championship, carding a remarkable 62 at Yas Links. The Italian golfer matched the lowest round of his DP World Tour career, finishing the day at ten under par, three strokes ahead of former world number one Jon Rahm, Sam Bairstow, and Bernd Wiesberger.
Laporta’s impressive performance included an eagle and eight birdies, all without a single bogey. His round places him in a strong position as he aims to secure a spot in the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, especially after entering the week ranked 57th in the Race to Dubai standings.
“Everything was just going like a video game,” Laporta remarked, expressing his satisfaction with his game. He noted that he had struggled in the days leading up to the tournament but spent considerable time practicing on the range and greens, which paid off during his round.
In the context of the Race to Dubai, leader Eugenio Chacarra and third-placed Rory McIlroy both shot rounds of 70, while second-placed Patrick Reed finished with a 74. The tournament features the top 70 players from the Race to Dubai Rankings, with the top 50 advancing to the championship in Dubai.
Bairstow, who was the last player to enter the field, made the most of his opportunity by also finishing bogey-free with seven birdies. Rahm, playing in the event for the first time, matched Bairstow’s performance, while Wiesberger’s eight birdies and one bogey positioned him just ahead of England’s Matthew Jordan and Poland’s Adrian Meronk.
Defending champion Aaron Rai, along with Tyrrell Hatton, Yuto Katsuragawa, Wenyi Ding, Shaun Norris, and Kristoffer Reitan, are all within striking distance, trailing by just one shot.
As the tournament progresses, Laporta’s ability to maintain his form will be crucial for his aspirations in the Race to Dubai. For more details on the event, visit ARN News Centre.
For ongoing coverage of sports events in the UAE, check out our Sports section.
