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Aaron Rai displayed exceptional composure to claim the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on Sunday, beating Tommy Fleetwood in a tense playoff after a rollercoaster final round of play.

The Englishman nailed a decisive birdie putt from just over eight foot to seal the win, repeating his sole prior Rolex Series triumph at the 2020 Scottish Open, which was likewise a playoff win over the same opponent.

Sunday's Play Excitement

The champion entered the final round with a one-shot advantage over fellow Englishman Fleetwood and Denmark’s Højgaard. He finished with a total score of twenty-under after a up-and-down, 67 closing round that featured seven birdies and two bogeys.

The challenger moved a stroke ahead with the 16th and 17th remaining after a birdie putt on the sixteenth, but his rival tied it up again on the 17th and then missed a ten-foot birdie putt to claim victory on the last hole.

Play-Off Decider

That set up a playoff at the Yas Links course where Rai triumphed to take the championship and $1.5 million (£1.13 million) in winnings.

{“Tommy is a world-class golfer and an even better person. To compete alongside him the final two rounds was really special,” stated the winner, the present 30th-ranked player globally. “You’re so concentrated on your game and staying in the zone, it’s difficult to put into words at the present how it feels. It is amazing to be holding the trophy.”

Other Performances

Rory McIlroy found himself a bit too far to make up, finishing a stroke behind in a shared third place with Højgaard, after a stunning 62 closing round of ten-under. It was his best-ever score on the DP World Tour, including eight birdies and an eagle.

Højgaard fired six birdies of his own, but his hopes of leading the standings were hit by a bogey on the twelfth. England’s Mansell produced an superb final-round 63 to finish in a tie for fifth place with Australian Hillier.