Aaron Rai Secures Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in Thrilling Playoff Battle Against Fellow Englishman Fleetwood
The 30-year-old golfer displayed remarkable composure to secure the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the final day, beating his compatriot in a dramatic playoff after a topsy-turvy last day of play.
The Englishman nailed a decisive birdie from just over eight feet to clinch the victory, repeating his only previous Rolex Series triumph at the 2020 Scottish Open, which was also a play-off victory over the same opponent.
Sunday's Play Drama
Rai entered the final round with a single stroke lead over fellow Englishman Fleetwood and Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard. He ended up with a total score of twenty-under after a up-and-down, five-under final round that included seven birdie putts and two bogeys.
Fleetwood moved a stroke 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 ten-foot birdie putt to win outright on the last green.
Play-Off Decider
This set up a play-off at Yas Links where Rai prevailed to claim the championship and $1.5 million (£1.13 million) in winnings.
{“Tommy is a phenomenal golfer and an even more individual. To compete alongside him the last two days was truly memorable,” said Rai, the present world No 30. “You’re so concentrated on playing the round and staying in the zone, it’s difficult to put into words at the present how it feels. It is incredible to be holding the trophy.”
Other Performances
Rory McIlroy left himself a bit too far to do, coming up a stroke behind in a shared third place with Højgaard, after a stunning 10-under closing round of 62. It was his best-ever score on the DP World Tour, including eight birdies and one eagle.
Højgaard carded six birdie putts of his own, but his hopes of leading the standings were dented by a dropped shot on the twelfth. England’s Mansell hit an superb final-round seven-under to finish tied for fifth with Australia’s Hillier.
