Aaron Rai Wins Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in Dramatic Play-Off Battle Against Tommy Fleetwood
The 30-year-old golfer demonstrated exceptional nerve to secure the prestigious Abu Dhabi title on the final day, defeating Tommy Fleetwood in a tense playoff after a topsy-turvy final round of competition.
The Englishman sank a crucial birdie putt from around eight feet to clinch the victory, repeating his sole prior Rolex Series success at the 2020 Scottish Open, which was also a play-off victory against the same opponent.
Final Round Drama
The champion started the last day with a single stroke advantage over countryman Tommy Fleetwood and Denmarkâs Nicolai HĂžjgaard. He ended up with a overall score of twenty-under after a up-and-down, 67 closing round that included seven birdie putts and two bogeys.
Fleetwood moved a stroke ahead with two holes remaining after a birdie putt on the sixteenth, but his rival tied it up again on the seventeenth and then failed to convert a ten-foot birdie attempt to claim victory on the last green.
Playoff Climax
That set up a play-off at the Yas Links course where Rai triumphed to claim the championship and $1.5m (ÂŁ1.13m) in winnings.
{âTommy is a phenomenal golfer and an even better individual. To compete alongside him the final two rounds was really special,â said Rai, the present world No 30. âYouâre so focused on your game and staying in the zone, itâs hard to describe at the moment how it is. It is incredible to be holding the trophy.â
Other Performances
Rory McIlroy found himself just too much to make up, finishing a stroke short in a shared third place with HĂžjgaard, after a spectacular 10-under final round of ten-under. It was his lowest-ever score on the European Tour, comprising eight birdies and one eagle.
The Danish golfer carded six birdies of his own, but his hopes of leading the leaderboard were hit by a dropped shot on the 12th. Englandâs Mansell hit an superb final-round seven-under to finish in a tie for fifth place with Australiaâs Hillier.
