Incredibly, Jon Rahm still has an outside chance of winning the Race to Dubai after his superb victory in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

Jon Rahm will win the season-long race if he is triumphant in Dubai and Eugenio Chacarra finishes worse than eighth, and Rory McIlroy does not finish inside the top two.

Rahm’s 11th DP World Tour win came at just the right time, after his exit from LIV Golf was confirmed a couple of weeks ago.

Now the 31-year-old Spaniard can focus entirely on regaining his very best form on the DP World Tour over the next 12 months, before hopefully returning to the PGA Tour in 2028.

Jon Rahm reacts after winning for the first time since LIV Golf collapsed

Aside from players who withdrew from the tournament, Rahm finished dead last the last time he played at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in September.

So, not many people expected Rahm to win this week in Abu Dhabi. The two-time major champion spoke to reporters after his victory at Yas Links and shared his delight as he recorded the 25th professional win of his career.

“It means a lot. Still almost not letting myself believe it, you know,“ Rahm exclaimed.

“It’s been quite a while since I’ve played good in a DP World Tour event, and I think if we don’t count the withdrawals, I think I finished last. So from last to first, pretty good feeling.“

He was then asked whether this win feels particularly significant in the context of LIV Golf having folded earlier in the week.

“Yeah, one can say that,“ Rahm replied.

“One can say that. After everything that’s gone on, and some poor play and some battles mentally, right, with a lot of noise, to come back out after a bit of rest and being with the family, it’s quite special. I only wish they were here to celebrate with me. She’s going to wake up, Kelley, I love you.“

But what about his chances of winning the Race to Dubai next week? Rahm responded when asked whether he is surprised that he is actually still in the mix.

“I didn’t think I would ever have a chance to win it,“ he admitted.

“Very excited. Actually gives me a little extra incentive next week. I really didn’t think I was going to have a chance. Those are better odds than I expected so looking forward to it and hopefully I can get my fourth one.“

Now the onus is on Jon Rahm to show everyone that he is capable of competing with the very best players in the world once again.

He has proven this week that he is still elite when he is on top form, and he will be desperate to perform well once again next week in Dubai.