The English golfer Clinches the Abu Dhabi Title in Dramatic Playoff Showdown Versus Tommy Fleetwood
Aaron Rai displayed remarkable nerve to secure the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on Sunday, defeating his compatriot in a dramatic play-off following a topsy-turvy last day of competition.
The Englishman nailed a decisive birdie putt from just over eight foot to clinch the victory, repeating his only previous Rolex Series success at the Scottish Open in 2020, which was also a play-off win over the same opponent.
Final Round Drama
Rai started the last day with a single stroke advantage over countryman Fleetwood and Denmark’s Højgaard. He ended up with a total score of 263 after a up-and-down, 67 closing round that featured seven birdie putts and a pair of bogeys.
The challenger moved a stroke ahead with the 16th and 17th to play after a birdie putt on the sixteenth, but his rival tied it up again on the seventeenth and then missed a ten-foot birdie putt to win outright on the last green.
Playoff Climax
That set up a playoff at Yas Links where Rai triumphed to take the title and $1.5m (ÂŁ1.13 million) in prize money.
{“Tommy is a phenomenal golfer and an even more person. To compete alongside him the last two days was truly memorable,” said the winner, the current world No 30. “You’re so focused on your game and staying in the zone, it’s difficult to describe at the present how it feels. It is incredible to be holding the trophy.”
Other Performances
Rory McIlroy found himself a bit too far to do, coming up one shot behind in a tie for third with the Dane, after a spectacular 62 final round of ten-under. It was his lowest-ever round on the DP World Tour, comprising eight birdie putts and one eagle.
The Danish golfer carded six birdie putts of his as well, but his hopes of leading the leaderboard were hit by a bogey on the twelfth. England’s Mansell produced an superb last round 63 to finish tied for fifth with Australian Hillier.