Aaron Rai Secures Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in Thrilling Playoff Showdown Against Tommy Fleetwood
Aaron Rai demonstrated exceptional composure to claim the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on Sunday, beating Tommy Fleetwood in a dramatic playoff after a rollercoaster final round of competition.
Rai nailed a crucial birdie from just over eight foot to clinch the win, repeating his only previous Rolex Series success at the 2020 Scottish Open, which was also a play-off victory against the same opponent.
Final Round Drama
The champion started the final round with a one-shot advantage over fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood and Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard. He finished with a overall score of twenty-under after a topsy-turvy, five-under final round that featured seven birdies and two bogeys.
Fleetwood moved one shot ahead with the 16th and 17th remaining after a birdie putt on the 16th, but his rival pulled level again on the 17th and then failed to convert a ten-foot birdie attempt to win outright on the last green.
Playoff Climax
That led to a play-off at Yas Links where Rai triumphed to claim the championship and $1.5 million (£1.13 million) in prize money.
{“Tommy is a world-class golfer and an even better person. To play with him the last two days was really special,” said Rai, the present world No 30. “You’re so focused on playing the round and maintaining focus, it’s difficult to describe at the present how it is. It is incredible to be holding the trophy.”
Notable Contenders
The Northern Irish star left himself just too much to make up, finishing a stroke short in a shared third place with the Dane, after a stunning 10-under closing round of ten-under. It was his best-ever round on the European Tour, comprising eight birdie putts and one eagle.
Højgaard carded six birdies of his own, but his chances of leading the leaderboard were dented by a bogey on the twelfth. English golfer Mansell produced an excellent last round seven-under to finish tied for fifth with Australian Hillier.
