Aaron Rai Clinches Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in Thrilling Play-Off Battle Against Tommy Fleetwood
The 30-year-old golfer displayed exceptional composure to claim the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the final day, defeating his compatriot in a tense playoff following a rollercoaster final round of competition.
Rai nailed a crucial birdie from around eight feet to clinch the win, repeating his sole prior Rolex Series success at the 2020 Scottish Open, which was also a playoff victory over the same opponent.
Sunday's Play Drama
The champion started the final round with a one-shot lead over countryman Fleetwood and Denmark’s Højgaard. He finished with a overall score of twenty-under after a up-and-down, five-under closing round that featured seven birdies and a pair of bogeys.
Fleetwood edged a stroke ahead with two holes remaining after a birdie on the sixteenth, but Rai pulled level again on the seventeenth and then missed a ten-foot birdie putt to claim victory on the last green.
Play-Off Decider
That set up a play-off at the Yas Links course where Rai prevailed to take the title and $1.5 million (£1.13m) in winnings.
{“Tommy is a phenomenal golfer and an even more individual. To play with him the final two rounds was really special,” stated Rai, the current 30th-ranked player globally. “You’re so focused 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 Performances
Rory McIlroy left himself just too much to do, coming up a stroke behind in a tie for third with Højgaard, after a stunning 62 closing round of ten-under. It was McIlroy’s lowest-ever score on the European Tour, comprising eight birdie putts and an eagle.
The Danish golfer carded six birdie putts of his as well, but his hopes of leading the leaderboard were dented by a bogey on the twelfth. England’s Richard Mansell produced an excellent final-round seven-under to end up in a tie for fifth place with Australia’s Daniel Hillier.
