The English golfer Wins Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in Dramatic Play-Off Showdown Versus Fellow Englishman Fleetwood
Aaron Rai demonstrated remarkable composure to secure the prestigious Abu Dhabi title on Sunday, defeating his compatriot in a dramatic play-off after a rollercoaster last day of competition.
The Englishman nailed a crucial birdie from around eight feet to clinch the win, echoing his only previous Rolex Series success at the 2020 Scottish Open, which was also a playoff victory against Fleetwood.
Sunday's Play Excitement
Rai started the final round with a single stroke advantage over countryman Tommy Fleetwood and Denmark’s Højgaard. He finished with a overall score of 263 after a up-and-down, 67 final round that included seven birdies and two bogeys.
Fleetwood edged one shot clear with two holes remaining after a birdie putt on the sixteenth, but Rai pulled level again on the seventeenth and then missed a ten-foot birdie attempt to claim victory on the final green.
Playoff Decider
That set up a playoff at the Yas Links course where the eventual winner triumphed to take the championship and $1.5m (£1.13 million) in prize money.
{“Tommy is a phenomenal golfer and an even more person. To play with him the last two days was truly memorable,” stated the winner, the current world No 30. “You’re so concentrated on your game and maintaining focus, it’s hard to describe at the present how it feels. It is incredible to be stood here.”
Notable Performances
The Northern Irish star left himself just too much to do, finishing a stroke behind in a tie for third with the Dane, after a stunning 10-under closing round of ten-under. It was McIlroy’s best-ever round on the European Tour, including eight birdies and one eagle.
Højgaard fired six birdie putts of his own, but his hopes of topping the standings were hit by a dropped shot on the 12th. England’s Mansell hit an superb final-round seven-under to end up in a tie for fifth place with Australian Hillier.
