The English golfer Wins Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in Dramatic Playoff Showdown Versus Tommy Fleetwood
Aaron Rai displayed exceptional nerve to claim the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the final day, defeating Tommy Fleetwood in a dramatic playoff following a rollercoaster final round of play.
The Englishman sank a decisive birdie from just over eight foot to seal the win, repeating his only previous Rolex Series triumph at the 2020 Scottish Open, which was also a play-off victory against Fleetwood.
Final Round Drama
The champion entered the last day with a one-shot advantage over fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood and Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard. He finished with a overall score of 263 after a topsy-turvy, five-under closing round that included seven birdie putts and a pair of bogeys.
Fleetwood edged a stroke clear with two holes remaining after a birdie on the sixteenth, but Rai pulled level again on the seventeenth and then failed to convert a 10-foot birdie attempt to claim victory on the final green.
Playoff Climax
This led to a play-off at Yas Links where the eventual winner triumphed to take the championship and $1.5m (£1.13 million) in winnings.
{“Tommy is a phenomenal player and an even more person. To play with him the final two rounds was really special,” said Rai, the present 30th-ranked player globally. “You’re so concentrated on your game and staying in the zone, it’s difficult to describe at the moment how it is. It is amazing to be holding the trophy.”
Notable Performances
The Northern Irish star found himself just too much to do, finishing one shot short in a tie for third with Højgaard, after a spectacular 10-under closing round of 62. It was his lowest-ever score on the DP World Tour, comprising eight birdies and one eagle.
Højgaard fired six birdie putts of his own, but his chances of leading the leaderboard were hit by a bogey on the twelfth. England’s Mansell produced an excellent last round seven-under to end up tied for fifth with Australia’s Daniel Hillier.
