The English golfer Clinches Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in Dramatic Playoff Battle Versus Tommy Fleetwood
The 30-year-old golfer demonstrated exceptional nerve to claim the prestigious Abu Dhabi title on the final day, defeating his compatriot in a dramatic play-off following a topsy-turvy last day of competition.
Rai sank a crucial birdie putt from just over eight feet to clinch the victory, repeating his only previous Rolex Series triumph at the Scottish Open in 2020, which was also a playoff win over the same opponent.
Final Round Drama
Rai entered the last day with a single stroke advantage over countryman Tommy Fleetwood and Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard. He ended up with a total score of twenty-under after a topsy-turvy, 67 final round that included seven birdies and a pair of bogeys.
The challenger edged a stroke clear with the 16th and 17th to play after a birdie on the sixteenth, but his rival tied it up again on the seventeenth and then missed a ten-foot birdie attempt to claim victory on the last hole.
Play-Off Decider
This set up a play-off at Yas Links where the eventual winner triumphed to take the championship and $1.5m (£1.13 million) in prize money.
{“Tommy is a world-class golfer and an even better individual. To play with him the final two rounds was really special,” said the winner, the current world No 30. “You’re so focused on your game and maintaining focus, it’s hard to describe at the present how it feels. It is incredible to be stood here.”
Other Performances
The Northern Irish star left himself just too much to do, coming up a stroke behind in a shared third place with Højgaard, after a spectacular 62 closing round of ten-under. It was McIlroy’s lowest-ever round on the European Tour, comprising eight birdie putts and one eagle.
The Danish golfer fired six birdie putts of his as well, but his hopes of leading the leaderboard were dented by a bogey on the 12th. English golfer Mansell hit an excellent final-round seven-under to finish tied for fifth with Australia’s Daniel Hillier.
