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Aaron Rai displayed exceptional nerve to secure the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the final day, beating Tommy Fleetwood in a dramatic playoff after a rollercoaster last day of competition.

The Englishman nailed a decisive birdie putt from just over eight feet to seal the win, repeating his sole prior tournament triumph at the Scottish Open in 2020, which was likewise a play-off win over Fleetwood.

Sunday's Play Excitement

The champion started the last day with a single stroke advantage over countryman Tommy Fleetwood and Denmark’s Højgaard. He ended up with a total score of twenty-under after a topsy-turvy, five-under closing round that featured seven birdies and a pair of bogeys.

Fleetwood edged a stroke ahead with the 16th and 17th remaining after a birdie putt on the 16th, but his rival pulled level again on the seventeenth and then failed to convert a 10-foot birdie attempt to win outright on the last green.

Playoff Climax

That set up a playoff at the Yas Links course where Rai prevailed to claim the championship and $1.5 million (£1.13 million) in prize money.

{“Tommy is a phenomenal player and an even better person. To play with him the final two rounds was truly memorable,” stated Rai, the current 30th-ranked player globally. “You’re so focused on your game and staying in the zone, it’s hard to describe at the present how it feels. It is amazing to be stood here.”

Notable Contenders

Rory McIlroy found himself a bit too far to do, finishing one shot behind in a shared third place with the Dane, after a stunning 10-under final round of ten-under. It was McIlroy’s best-ever score on the European Tour, comprising eight birdie putts and one eagle.

The Danish golfer carded six birdies of his own, but his hopes of leading the leaderboard were dented by a dropped shot on the twelfth. England’s Mansell produced an excellent last round seven-under to finish tied for fifth with Australia’s Daniel Hillier.