The English golfer Clinches Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in Thrilling Playoff Battle Versus Fellow Englishman Fleetwood
Aaron Rai demonstrated remarkable composure to claim the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on Sunday, beating Tommy Fleetwood in a dramatic playoff following a rollercoaster final round of competition.
The Englishman nailed a crucial birdie putt from just over eight feet to seal the victory, repeating his only previous Rolex Series success at the Scottish Open in 2020, which was also a playoff victory over Fleetwood.
Sunday's Play Excitement
The champion started the last day with a single stroke lead over fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood and Danish golfer Nicolai Højgaard. He ended up with a total score of twenty-under after a topsy-turvy, five-under final round that featured seven birdies and two bogeys.
Fleetwood moved a stroke ahead with two holes remaining after a birdie on the 16th, but his rival pulled level again on the seventeenth and then missed a 10-foot birdie putt to win outright on the last hole.
Play-Off Decider
This set up a playoff at Yas Links where Rai triumphed to claim the championship and $1.5m (£1.13m) in winnings.
{“Tommy is a phenomenal golfer and an even better person. To play with him the last two days was truly memorable,” said Rai, the current world No 30. “You’re so focused on playing the round and staying in the zone, it’s hard to describe at the moment how it is. It is incredible to be stood here.”
Notable Performances
The Northern Irish star left himself just too much to make up, finishing one shot short in a shared third place with the Dane, after a stunning 62 final round of 62. It was his best-ever score on the European Tour, including eight birdie putts and one eagle.
The Danish golfer carded six birdies of his own, but his chances of topping the standings were hit by a bogey on the twelfth. England’s Mansell produced an excellent final-round seven-under to end up tied for fifth with Australia’s Hillier.
