The English golfer Clinches the Abu Dhabi Title in Dramatic Play-Off Battle Against Tommy Fleetwood
Aaron Rai displayed exceptional nerve to claim the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on Sunday, defeating his compatriot in a dramatic playoff following a topsy-turvy last day of play.
The Englishman nailed a crucial birdie from around eight feet to seal the victory, repeating his only previous tournament triumph at the 2020 Scottish Open, which was also a play-off win over the same opponent.
Final Round Drama
Rai entered the final round with a single stroke advantage over fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood and Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard. He finished with a overall score of 263 after a topsy-turvy, 67 final round that featured seven birdies and a pair of bogeys.
Fleetwood edged a stroke clear with the 16th and 17th to play after a birdie putt on the sixteenth, but Rai tied it up again on the 17th and then failed to convert a 10-foot birdie putt to win outright on the final hole.
Playoff Decider
This set up a playoff at the Yas Links course where Rai prevailed to take the championship and $1.5m (£1.13 million) in prize money.
{“Tommy is a phenomenal player and an even better person. To compete alongside him the final two rounds was really special,” stated Rai, the present 30th-ranked player globally. “You’re so concentrated on playing the round and maintaining focus, it’s hard to put into words at the moment how it feels. It is incredible to be stood here.”
Notable Performances
Rory McIlroy left himself a bit too far to do, coming up a stroke short in a shared third place with Højgaard, after a spectacular 62 final round of ten-under. It was his best-ever round on the DP World Tour, including eight birdies and an eagle.
The Danish golfer fired six birdies of his own, but his chances of leading the standings were hit by a dropped shot on the twelfth. English golfer Mansell produced an excellent last round seven-under to finish in a tie for fifth place with Australia’s Daniel Hillier.
