Aaron Rai Wins Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in Thrilling Playoff Battle Against Fellow Englishman Fleetwood
The 30-year-old golfer demonstrated remarkable nerve to secure the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on Sunday, defeating Tommy Fleetwood in a dramatic play-off after a rollercoaster final round of play.
Rai sank a decisive birdie from around eight feet to seal the win, repeating his only previous Rolex Series success at the Scottish Open in 2020, which was also a play-off win against Fleetwood.
Sunday's Play Drama
Rai started the last day with a one-shot lead over countryman Fleetwood and Denmark’s Højgaard. He ended up with a total score of twenty-under after a topsy-turvy, five-under closing round that featured seven birdies and a pair of bogeys.
Fleetwood edged one shot ahead with the 16th and 17th remaining after a birdie putt on the sixteenth, but his rival tied it up again on the 17th and then failed to convert a 10-foot birdie attempt to win outright on the final hole.
Play-Off Decider
That led to a play-off at the Yas Links course where the eventual winner prevailed to take the title and $1.5 million (£1.13m) in winnings.
{“Tommy is a world-class player and an even better person. 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 staying in the zone, it’s hard to describe at the moment how it is. It is amazing to be stood here.”
Other Contenders
The Northern Irish star found himself just too much to do, finishing one shot short in a shared third place with Højgaard, after a stunning 10-under closing round of ten-under. It was McIlroy’s lowest-ever round on the DP World Tour, including eight birdies and one eagle.
Højgaard fired six birdie putts of his as well, but his chances of leading the standings were hit by a dropped shot on the twelfth. England’s Richard Mansell hit an excellent final-round 63 to finish tied for fifth with Australian Hillier.
