Aaron Rai Secures Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in Dramatic Play-Off Showdown Against Fellow Englishman Fleetwood
Aaron Rai demonstrated exceptional nerve to secure the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on Sunday, beating Tommy Fleetwood in a dramatic play-off after a topsy-turvy final round of play.
The Englishman sank a crucial birdie putt from around eight foot to clinch the win, echoing his sole prior Rolex Series triumph at the Scottish Open in 2020, which was likewise a play-off victory against the same opponent.
Final Round Drama
Rai entered the last day with a single stroke lead over fellow Englishman Fleetwood and Denmark’s Højgaard. He ended up with a overall score of twenty-under after a topsy-turvy, five-under closing round that featured seven birdie putts and two bogeys.
Fleetwood moved one shot clear with two holes remaining after a birdie on the 16th, 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 led to a playoff at Yas Links where Rai triumphed to take the title and $1.5 million (£1.13m) in winnings.
{“Tommy is a world-class golfer and an even better individual. To compete alongside him the final two rounds was truly memorable,” stated Rai, the present 30th-ranked player globally. “You’re so concentrated on playing the round and maintaining focus, it’s hard to describe at the moment how it feels. It is amazing to be stood here.”
Notable Contenders
Rory McIlroy left himself just too much to make up, coming up one shot behind in a tie for third with Højgaard, after a spectacular 62 final round of ten-under. It was his lowest-ever round on the DP World Tour, comprising eight birdies and an eagle.
Højgaard fired six birdie putts of his own, but his hopes of topping the standings were dented by a dropped shot on the 12th. English golfer Richard Mansell produced an excellent last round 63 to finish in a tie for fifth place with Australian Hillier.
