Aaron Rai Secures the Abu Dhabi Title in Dramatic Play-Off Battle Versus Tommy Fleetwood
Aaron Rai displayed remarkable composure to claim the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the final day, defeating Tommy Fleetwood in a tense play-off following a rollercoaster last day of play.
Rai sank a crucial birdie from around eight feet to clinch the win, echoing his sole prior Rolex Series success at the Scottish Open in 2020, which was likewise a play-off win over Fleetwood.
Sunday's Play Drama
Rai started the final round with a single stroke advantage over fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood and Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard. He finished with a total score of twenty-under after a topsy-turvy, 67 final round that featured seven birdie putts and two bogeys.
The challenger edged a stroke ahead with two holes to play after a birdie putt on the sixteenth, but Rai tied it up again on the seventeenth and then failed to convert a ten-foot birdie attempt to win outright on the last green.
Playoff Climax
This led to a play-off at Yas Links where Rai prevailed to claim the championship and $1.5 million (ÂŁ1.13m) in prize money.
{“Tommy is a phenomenal golfer and an even better person. To play with him the final two rounds was really special,” said the winner, the current 30th-ranked player globally. “You’re so focused on your game and staying in the zone, it’s hard to describe at the present how it is. It is amazing to be stood here.”
Other Contenders
Rory McIlroy found himself a bit too far to do, finishing a stroke behind in a shared third place with the Dane, after a spectacular 62 final round of 62. It was McIlroy’s best-ever round on the DP World Tour, including eight birdie putts and one eagle.
The Danish golfer fired six birdies of his own, but his chances of leading the leaderboard were dented by a bogey on the 12th. English golfer Richard Mansell hit an superb last round 63 to end up tied for fifth with Australia’s Hillier.