The English golfer Wins the Abu Dhabi Title in Dramatic Playoff Battle Against Tommy Fleetwood
The 30-year-old golfer displayed exceptional nerve to claim the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the final day, defeating his compatriot in a dramatic play-off 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 Scottish Open in 2020, which was also a playoff victory against the same opponent.
Final Round Excitement
Rai started the last day with a one-shot lead over countryman Tommy Fleetwood and Danish golfer Højgaard. He finished with a total score of 263 after a topsy-turvy, 67 final round that included seven birdie putts and a pair of bogeys.
Fleetwood edged a stroke clear with the 16th and 17th to play after a birdie on the 16th, but Rai pulled level again on the 17th and then failed to convert a 10-foot birdie attempt to claim victory on the last green.
Play-Off Climax
That led to a play-off at the Yas Links course where the eventual winner triumphed to claim the championship and $1.5 million (£1.13 million) in prize money.
{“Tommy is a world-class player and an even better person. To compete alongside him the last two days was truly memorable,” stated Rai, the present 30th-ranked player globally. “You’re so concentrated on playing the round and staying in the zone, it’s difficult to put into words at the moment how it is. It is incredible to be holding the trophy.”
Other Performances
Rory McIlroy left himself just too much to do, coming up one shot behind in a shared third place with Højgaard, after a spectacular 62 closing round of ten-under. It was McIlroy’s best-ever round on the DP World Tour, including eight birdie putts and one eagle.
Højgaard fired six birdies of his own, but his hopes of leading the leaderboard were dented by a dropped shot on the 12th. England’s Mansell hit an superb final-round seven-under to finish in a tie for fifth place with Australian Hillier.
