Aaron Rai Secures Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in Dramatic Playoff Battle Versus Tommy Fleetwood
The 30-year-old golfer demonstrated exceptional nerve to secure the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the final day, beating Tommy Fleetwood in a dramatic play-off following a rollercoaster final round of play.
Rai sank a crucial birdie putt from just over eight foot to seal the win, repeating his sole prior tournament success at the 2020 Scottish Open, which was likewise a playoff victory against Fleetwood.
Sunday's Play Excitement
The champion entered the last day with a one-shot lead over countryman Tommy Fleetwood and Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard. He ended up with a total score of twenty-under after a topsy-turvy, 67 closing round that featured seven birdies and two bogeys.
Fleetwood edged a stroke ahead with two holes 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 last hole.
Play-Off Decider
This set up a playoff at Yas Links where Rai triumphed to take the championship and $1.5 million (£1.13 million) in winnings.
{“Tommy is a phenomenal golfer and an even more person. To play with him the final two rounds was really special,” said Rai, the current 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 incredible to be stood here.”
Notable Contenders
The Northern Irish star found himself just too much to make up, coming up one shot short in a shared third place with the Dane, after a stunning 10-under closing round of ten-under. It was his lowest-ever round on the DP World Tour, comprising eight birdie putts and one eagle.
The Danish golfer carded six birdies of his own, but his chances of leading the leaderboard were dented by a dropped shot on the twelfth. England’s Mansell produced an superb last round seven-under to end up in a tie for fifth place with Australia’s Daniel Hillier.
