Aaron Rai Clinches the Abu Dhabi Title in Dramatic Play-Off Showdown Against Fellow Englishman Fleetwood
Aaron Rai displayed exceptional nerve to claim the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on Sunday, beating Tommy Fleetwood in a dramatic play-off following a rollercoaster final round of play.
Rai nailed a decisive birdie from around eight foot to seal the victory, repeating his only previous Rolex Series triumph at the 2020 Scottish Open, which was likewise a playoff win over Fleetwood.
Final Round Drama
Rai started the final round with a one-shot lead over countryman Fleetwood and Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard. He finished with a total score of 263 after a topsy-turvy, five-under closing round that included seven birdie putts and two bogeys.
Fleetwood edged one shot ahead with the 16th and 17th to play after a birdie on the sixteenth, but his rival pulled level again on the 17th and then missed a ten-foot birdie putt to claim victory on the final green.
Playoff Decider
That led to a playoff at Yas Links where the eventual winner triumphed to claim the championship and $1.5m (£1.13m) in winnings.
{“Tommy is a phenomenal player and an even more individual. To play with him the final two rounds was really special,” said the winner, the current 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 is. It is amazing to be holding the trophy.”
Notable Contenders
Rory McIlroy found himself just too much to make up, finishing one shot short in a shared third place with the Dane, after a stunning 62 closing round of ten-under. It was McIlroy’s best-ever round on the European Tour, comprising eight birdies and one eagle.
The Danish golfer fired six birdies of his as well, but his chances of topping the leaderboard were hit by a dropped shot on the twelfth. English golfer Richard Mansell produced an superb last round seven-under to finish tied for fifth with Australia’s Hillier.
