Aaron Rai demonstrated exceptional composure to claim the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the final day, beating Tommy Fleetwood in a tense play-off following a rollercoaster final round of competition.
The Englishman nailed a decisive birdie putt from around eight feet to seal the victory, echoing his only previous Rolex Series triumph at the 2020 Scottish Open, which was likewise a playoff win over the same opponent.
Sunday's Play Drama
Rai started the last day with a single stroke advantage over countryman Fleetwood and Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard. He finished with a overall score of 263 after a topsy-turvy, five-under closing round that featured seven birdies and a pair of bogeys.
Fleetwood moved a stroke clear with the 16th and 17th to play after a birdie on the sixteenth, but Rai pulled level again on the seventeenth and then failed to convert a 10-foot birdie putt to claim victory on the final hole.
Play-Off Decider
This led to a play-off at the Yas Links course where the eventual winner triumphed to claim the title and $1.5m (£1.13m) in prize money.
{“Tommy is a phenomenal golfer and an even better individual. To compete alongside him the last two days was really special,” said the winner, the current world No 30. “You’re so concentrated on your game and staying in the zone, it’s hard to put into words at the moment how it is. It is amazing to be holding the trophy.”
Other Contenders
The Northern Irish star left himself just too much to do, finishing one shot behind in a tie for third with the Dane, after a stunning 62 closing round of 62. It was McIlroy’s best-ever score on the DP World Tour, comprising eight birdie putts and one eagle.
The Danish golfer fired six birdie putts of his as well, but his hopes of topping the standings were hit by a dropped shot on the twelfth. English golfer Mansell hit an excellent final-round 63 to end up in a tie for fifth place with Australian Daniel Hillier.
