The English golfer Secures the Abu Dhabi Title in Dramatic Playoff Battle Against Fellow Englishman Fleetwood
Aaron Rai demonstrated remarkable nerve to secure the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on Sunday, defeating Tommy Fleetwood in a dramatic play-off after a rollercoaster final round of competition.
Rai nailed a crucial birdie putt from just over eight foot to seal the win, repeating his only previous tournament success at the 2020 Scottish Open, which was also a play-off victory over the same opponent.
Final Round Drama
Rai started the final round with a single stroke advantage over fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood and Danish golfer Højgaard. He finished with a overall score of 263 after a topsy-turvy, five-under closing round that featured seven birdie putts and two bogeys.
The challenger edged a stroke ahead with the 16th and 17th remaining after a birdie on the 16th, but Rai tied it up again on the seventeenth and then missed a ten-foot birdie putt to win outright on the last hole.
Play-Off Climax
That set up a play-off at the Yas Links course where Rai triumphed to take the title and $1.5m (£1.13m) in winnings.
{“Tommy is a phenomenal golfer and an even more individual. To compete alongside him the final two rounds was truly memorable,” said Rai, the present world No 30. “You’re so concentrated on your game and maintaining focus, it’s difficult to describe at the moment how it feels. It is incredible to be holding the trophy.”
Other Performances
The Northern Irish star found himself just too much to do, finishing one shot behind in a shared third place with Højgaard, after a spectacular 10-under closing 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 birdie putts of his as well, but his hopes of leading the leaderboard were dented by a bogey on the twelfth. English golfer Richard Mansell produced an excellent last round seven-under to finish tied for fifth with Australian Daniel Hillier.
