The English golfer Clinches Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in Dramatic Playoff Battle Versus Fellow Englishman Fleetwood
The 30-year-old golfer displayed remarkable composure to secure the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the final day, defeating his compatriot in a tense play-off following a rollercoaster last day of competition.
Rai nailed a decisive birdie from just over eight foot to seal the win, echoing his sole prior Rolex Series triumph at the Scottish Open in 2020, which was also a play-off win over the same opponent.
Final Round Drama
Rai started the final round with a one-shot advantage over countryman Tommy Fleetwood and Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard. He ended up with a total score of 263 after a topsy-turvy, five-under closing round that included seven birdie putts and a pair of bogeys.
Fleetwood moved a stroke clear with the 16th and 17th remaining after a birdie on the 16th, but Rai tied it up again on the seventeenth and then failed to convert a ten-foot birdie putt to win outright on the last green.
Play-Off Climax
This set up a play-off at Yas Links where Rai prevailed to take the championship and $1.5 million (£1.13 million) in winnings.
{“Tommy is a world-class golfer and an even more individual. To play with him the final two rounds was truly memorable,” said Rai, the present 30th-ranked player globally. “You’re so focused on playing the round and staying in the zone, it’s difficult to describe at the moment how it is. It is amazing to be stood here.”
Notable Contenders
Rory McIlroy left himself just too much to make up, coming up a stroke short in a tie for third with Højgaard, after a spectacular 10-under final round of ten-under. It was McIlroy’s lowest-ever score on the DP World Tour, including eight birdies and one eagle.
The Danish golfer carded six birdies of his as well, but his chances of topping the leaderboard were dented by a dropped shot on the twelfth. England’s Mansell produced an superb final-round 63 to finish in a tie for fifth place with Australian Hillier.
