Aaron Rai Edges Out Tommy Fleetwood In Playoff To Take Title In Abu Dhabi

Aaron Rai held his nervus to triumph nan Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship connected Sunday, beating Tommy Fleetwood connected nan first playoff spread aft a melodramatic last day.

The 30-year-old sunk a birdie from conscionable complete 8 feet to seal victory, emulating his only erstwhile Rolex Series win. That came astatine nan 2020 Scottish Open, and was besides a playoff triumph complete Fleetwood.

Rai went into nan last information pinch a one-shot lead complete chap Englishman Fleetwood and Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard. He emerged pinch a full of 263 aft a topsy-turvy, five-under last information that included 7 birdies and 2 bogeys.

Fleetwood moved 1 changeable clear pinch 2 holes to play aft a birdie connected nan 16th, but Rai pulled level again connected nan 17th and past missed a 10-foot birdie putt to triumph outright connected nan last. That group up a playoff astatine Yas Links wherever Rai prevailed to triumph nan title and $1.5m (£1.13m) successful prize money.

“Tommy is simply a phenomenal subordinate and an moreover amended person. To play pinch him nan past 2 days was really special,” said Rai, nan existent world No 30. “You’re truthful focused connected playing nan information and staying successful nan zone, it’s difficult to put into words astatine nan infinitesimal really it feels. It is astonishing to beryllium stood here.”

Rory McIlroy near himself conscionable excessively overmuch to do, coming up 1 changeable short successful a necktie for 3rd spot pinch Højgaard, aft a stunning 10-under last information of 62. It was McIlroy’s lowest-ever information connected nan DP World Tour, comprising 8 birdies and an eagle.

Højgaard fired six birdies of his own, but his hopes of topping nan leaderboard were deed by a bogey connected nan 12th. England’s Richard Mansell deed an fantabulous final-round 63 to decorativeness tied for 5th spot pinch Australia’s Daniel Hillier.