The English golfer Secures Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in Dramatic Play-Off Showdown Versus Fellow Englishman Fleetwood
Aaron Rai demonstrated remarkable composure to secure the prestigious Abu Dhabi title on Sunday, beating Tommy Fleetwood in a tense playoff following a rollercoaster last day of competition.
Rai sank a crucial birdie putt from just over eight foot to seal the win, repeating his sole prior tournament success at the 2020 Scottish Open, which was likewise a play-off win against the same opponent.
Sunday's Play Drama
Rai entered the final round with a one-shot lead over countryman Tommy Fleetwood and Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard. He ended up with a total score of 263 after a topsy-turvy, 67 closing round that featured seven birdies and two bogeys.
Fleetwood moved one shot 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 10-foot birdie attempt to claim victory on the final green.
Playoff Climax
This set up a play-off at Yas Links where the eventual winner triumphed to take the championship and $1.5m (£1.13m) in winnings.
{“Tommy is a world-class player and an even more person. To play with him the final two rounds was really special,” said the winner, 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 present how it feels. It is incredible to be stood here.”
Other Contenders
Rory McIlroy found himself just too much to make up, coming up a stroke short in a shared third place with Højgaard, after a stunning 10-under final round of ten-under. It was his best-ever score on the DP World Tour, including eight birdie putts and an eagle.
Højgaard carded six birdies of his as well, but his chances of leading the leaderboard were dented by a dropped shot on the 12th. England’s Richard Mansell produced an superb final-round seven-under to finish in a tie for fifth place with Australian Hillier.