Aaron Rai Secures Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in Dramatic Play-Off Battle Versus Tommy Fleetwood
The 30-year-old golfer demonstrated remarkable nerve to claim the prestigious Abu Dhabi title on Sunday, beating his compatriot in a tense play-off following a rollercoaster final round of competition.
Rai nailed a crucial birdie from around eight foot to seal the victory, repeating his sole prior tournament success at the 2020 Scottish Open, which was also a play-off victory over the same opponent.
Sunday's Play Excitement
The champion entered the final round with a single stroke lead over fellow Englishman Fleetwood and Danish golfer Nicolai Højgaard. He ended up with a overall score of 263 after a up-and-down, five-under closing round that included seven birdie putts and two bogeys.
Fleetwood edged one shot clear with two holes to play after a birdie on the 16th, but Rai tied it up again on the seventeenth and then missed a 10-foot birdie attempt to win outright on the last green.
Play-Off Decider
That set up a play-off at the Yas Links course where the eventual winner triumphed to take the title and $1.5 million (£1.13 million) in prize money.
{“Tommy is a phenomenal player and an even better individual. To compete alongside him the last two days was really special,” stated the winner, the present world No 30. “You’re so focused on playing the round and maintaining focus, it’s hard to put into words at the present how it feels. It is incredible to be stood here.”
Other Performances
Rory McIlroy left himself a bit too far to make up, coming up a stroke behind in a shared third place with the Dane, after a spectacular 10-under final round of ten-under. It was McIlroy’s best-ever round on the DP World Tour, including eight birdies and one eagle.
Højgaard carded six birdie putts of his own, but his hopes of leading the leaderboard were hit by a dropped shot on the 12th. English golfer Mansell produced an superb final-round seven-under to end up in a tie for fifth place with Australia’s Hillier.
