🔗 Share this article

Aaron Rai demonstrated exceptional composure to claim the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on Sunday, defeating his compatriot in a tense playoff after a topsy-turvy final round of competition.

The Englishman sank a crucial birdie putt from just over eight foot to clinch the victory, echoing his sole prior tournament triumph at the Scottish Open in 2020, which was also a playoff victory over the same opponent.

Final Round Drama

The champion started the last day with a single stroke advantage over fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood and Danish golfer Nicolai Højgaard. He finished with a overall score of twenty-under after a up-and-down, five-under final round that featured seven birdies and two bogeys.

The challenger moved a stroke ahead with two holes remaining after a birdie putt 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.

Playoff Climax

That set up a play-off at Yas Links where the eventual winner prevailed to take the title and $1.5 million (£1.13 million) in winnings.

{“Tommy is a world-class golfer and an even better person. To compete alongside him the last two days was truly memorable,” stated Rai, the current 30th-ranked player globally. “You’re so concentrated on your game and staying in the zone, it’s hard to describe at the moment how it feels. It is amazing to be stood here.”

Notable Performances

The Northern Irish star found himself just too much to do, coming up a stroke behind in a shared third place with the Dane, after a spectacular 10-under closing round of 62. It was McIlroy’s lowest-ever score on the DP World Tour, including eight birdies and one eagle.

The Danish golfer fired six birdie putts of his as well, but his chances of leading the standings were dented by a dropped shot on the twelfth. England’s Richard Mansell hit an superb last round 63 to finish in a tie for fifth place with Australia’s Hillier.