Aaron Rai Clinches Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in Dramatic Playoff Battle Versus Tommy Fleetwood
Aaron Rai demonstrated remarkable composure to secure the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on Sunday, defeating his compatriot in a dramatic playoff after a topsy-turvy last day of play.
The Englishman sank a crucial birdie putt from just over eight feet to seal the victory, echoing his sole prior Rolex Series success at the 2020 Scottish Open, which was also a playoff victory against the same opponent.
Sunday's Play Excitement
The champion entered the final round with a one-shot advantage over countryman Tommy Fleetwood and Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard. He ended up with a overall score of 263 after a up-and-down, 67 closing round that featured seven birdie putts and two bogeys.
The challenger edged a stroke ahead with the 16th and 17th remaining after a birdie on the sixteenth, but Rai tied it up again on the seventeenth and then failed to convert a 10-foot birdie putt to claim victory on the last green.
Playoff Climax
That set up a playoff at the Yas Links course where the eventual winner prevailed to take the title and $1.5m (ÂŁ1.13m) in prize money.
{“Tommy is a world-class golfer and an even more person. To play with him the final two rounds was truly memorable,” said Rai, the present 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 is. It is incredible to be holding the trophy.”
Notable Contenders
Rory McIlroy left himself a bit too far to make up, finishing one shot short in a tie for third with Højgaard, after a stunning 62 closing round of ten-under. It was his best-ever round on the DP World Tour, including eight birdies and one eagle.
The Danish golfer fired six birdie putts of his own, but his hopes of leading the leaderboard were dented by a bogey on the 12th. English golfer Mansell produced an superb last round 63 to end up in a tie for fifth place with Australia’s Daniel Hillier.
