Aaron Rai Secures the Abu Dhabi Title in Dramatic Play-Off Battle Versus Tommy Fleetwood
The 30-year-old golfer displayed remarkable composure to secure the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on Sunday, beating Tommy Fleetwood in a dramatic playoff following a topsy-turvy last day of play.
Rai nailed a decisive birdie putt from around eight feet to clinch the victory, echoing his sole prior tournament triumph at the 2020 Scottish Open, which was likewise a play-off victory against the same opponent.
Final Round Drama
Rai started the final round with a single stroke lead over countryman Tommy Fleetwood and Danish golfer Nicolai Højgaard. He ended up with a overall score of 263 after a topsy-turvy, 67 closing round that included seven birdies and two bogeys.
The challenger moved a stroke clear with the 16th and 17th to play after a birdie on the sixteenth, but Rai tied it up again on the 17th and then missed a ten-foot birdie putt to win outright on the final green.
Playoff Climax
That set up a playoff at Yas Links where Rai prevailed to claim the title and $1.5m (£1.13 million) in winnings.
{“Tommy is a phenomenal golfer and an even better person. To compete alongside him the last two days was really special,” said Rai, the current 30th-ranked player globally. “You’re so focused on your game and maintaining focus, it’s difficult to describe at the moment how it is. It is incredible to be holding the trophy.”
Notable Contenders
Rory McIlroy left himself just too much to do, finishing a stroke behind in a tie for third with the Dane, after a spectacular 10-under final round of ten-under. It was his best-ever score on the European Tour, comprising eight birdie putts and one eagle.
The Danish golfer carded six birdies of his as well, but his chances of leading the standings were dented by a bogey on the twelfth. England’s Richard Mansell produced an superb final-round seven-under to end up tied for fifth with Australian Daniel Hillier.
