The English golfer Wins Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in Thrilling Playoff Battle Against Fellow Englishman Fleetwood
Aaron Rai displayed exceptional nerve to secure the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the final day, defeating Tommy Fleetwood in a dramatic playoff after a topsy-turvy final round of competition.
Rai nailed a crucial birdie putt from around eight feet to seal the victory, repeating his sole prior tournament triumph at the 2020 Scottish Open, which was likewise a play-off victory against Fleetwood.
Sunday's Play Drama
Rai entered the final round with a one-shot advantage over countryman Tommy Fleetwood and Denmark’s Højgaard. He finished with a overall score of twenty-under after a topsy-turvy, 67 closing round that featured seven birdies and a pair of bogeys.
Fleetwood edged one shot clear with the 16th and 17th to play after a birdie putt on the sixteenth, but his rival pulled level again on the 17th and then failed to convert a 10-foot birdie putt to win outright on the final green.
Play-Off Decider
That led to a play-off at Yas Links where the eventual winner triumphed to take the title and $1.5m (£1.13m) in winnings.
{“Tommy is a world-class golfer and an even better individual. To play with him the last two days was truly memorable,” said the winner, the present 30th-ranked player globally. “You’re so focused on playing the round and staying in the zone, it’s difficult to describe at the present how it feels. It is amazing to be holding the trophy.”
Other Performances
Rory McIlroy left himself a bit too far to make up, finishing one shot behind in a tie for third with the Dane, after a stunning 10-under closing round of 62. It was his best-ever round on the DP World Tour, including eight birdie putts and an eagle.
The Danish golfer fired six birdies of his own, but his hopes of leading the leaderboard were dented by a bogey on the twelfth. England’s Richard Mansell produced an superb final-round seven-under to finish in a tie for fifth place with Australia’s Hillier.
