Aaron Rai displayed remarkable composure to secure the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the final day, defeating his compatriot in a tense play-off after a rollercoaster final round of play.
Rai nailed a decisive birdie putt from around eight foot to clinch the victory, repeating his sole prior Rolex Series success at the 2020 Scottish Open, which was also a playoff win against Fleetwood.
Final Round Drama
The champion entered the last day with a single stroke lead over countryman Tommy Fleetwood and Danish golfer Nicolai Højgaard. He finished with a total score of 263 after a up-and-down, five-under closing round that included seven birdies and two bogeys.
Fleetwood moved one shot clear with two holes remaining after a birdie putt on the sixteenth, but his rival tied it up again on the seventeenth and then failed to convert a 10-foot birdie putt to claim victory on the final green.
Play-Off Climax
This set up a playoff at the Yas Links course where the eventual winner prevailed to claim the championship and $1.5 million (£1.13 million) in prize money.
{“Tommy is a phenomenal player and an even better individual. To play with him the last two days was truly memorable,” said Rai, the current 30th-ranked player globally. “You’re so focused on playing the round and staying in the zone, it’s hard to describe at the moment how it feels. It is amazing to be holding the trophy.”
Other Contenders
Rory McIlroy found himself just too much to make up, coming up a stroke short in a shared third place with the Dane, after a stunning 10-under final round of 62. It was McIlroy’s lowest-ever score on the DP World Tour, including eight birdie putts and an eagle.
The Danish golfer carded six birdies of his as well, but his hopes of leading the standings were dented by a dropped shot on the twelfth. English golfer Mansell hit an superb last round seven-under to finish tied for fifth with Australia’s Hillier.
