🔗 Share this article

Aaron Rai displayed exceptional composure to secure the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the final day, beating Tommy Fleetwood in a tense play-off after a rollercoaster final round of play.

Rai sank a decisive birdie putt from around eight foot to clinch the win, repeating his sole prior Rolex Series triumph at the Scottish Open in 2020, which was also a playoff win against Fleetwood.

Final Round Excitement

The champion entered the final round with a single stroke lead over fellow Englishman Fleetwood and Danish golfer Højgaard. He ended up with a total score of twenty-under after a up-and-down, five-under final round that featured seven birdies and two bogeys.

The challenger moved one shot ahead with the 16th and 17th to play after a birdie putt on the 16th, but Rai pulled level again on the seventeenth and then failed to convert a 10-foot birdie putt to win outright on the final green.

Playoff Climax

This set up a play-off at the Yas Links course where the eventual winner triumphed to take the title and $1.5 million (£1.13 million) in prize money.

{“Tommy is a world-class player and an even more individual. To compete alongside him the final two rounds was really special,” said Rai, the present 30th-ranked player globally. “You’re so concentrated on playing the round and maintaining focus, it’s difficult to describe at the present how it feels. It is incredible to be stood here.”

Notable Performances

Rory McIlroy found himself a bit too far to do, coming up a stroke behind in a shared third place with the Dane, after a stunning 62 closing round of 62. It was his best-ever round on the European Tour, including eight birdie putts and one eagle.

Højgaard carded six birdie putts of his own, but his chances of leading the leaderboard were dented by a bogey on the 12th. England’s Mansell hit an superb last round 63 to end up in a tie for fifth place with Australia’s Hillier.