Aaron Rai Wins Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in Dramatic Playoff Battle Against Tommy Fleetwood
Aaron Rai demonstrated remarkable nerve to secure the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on Sunday, defeating Tommy Fleetwood in a dramatic playoff after a rollercoaster final round of competition.
Rai nailed a decisive birdie putt from around eight feet to seal the victory, echoing his sole prior Rolex Series success at the 2020 Scottish Open, which was also a play-off win against the same opponent.
Final Round Excitement
The champion started the final round with a single stroke advantage over fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood and Denmark’s Højgaard. He finished with a overall score of twenty-under after a up-and-down, five-under final round that featured seven birdie putts and a pair of bogeys.
The challenger moved one shot clear with two holes remaining after a birdie putt on the sixteenth, but his rival tied it up again on the 17th and then missed a 10-foot birdie putt to claim victory on the final hole.
Playoff Climax
That led to a play-off at the Yas Links course where the eventual winner prevailed to claim the title and $1.5m (ÂŁ1.13 million) in prize money.
{“Tommy is a world-class player and an even more person. To play with him the last two days was really special,” said Rai, the current 30th-ranked player globally. “You’re so concentrated on your game and staying in the zone, it’s difficult to describe at the moment how it feels. It is amazing to be holding the trophy.”
Notable 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 spectacular 62 closing round of ten-under. It was his lowest-ever round on the DP World Tour, comprising eight birdies and an eagle.
Højgaard carded six birdies of his own, but his hopes of leading the standings were hit by a bogey on the 12th. England’s Mansell produced an excellent last round 63 to end up tied for fifth with Australia’s Hillier.
