Aaron Rai Secures the Abu Dhabi Title in Thrilling Playoff Showdown Versus Tommy Fleetwood
Aaron Rai displayed exceptional composure to secure the prestigious Abu Dhabi title on Sunday, defeating his compatriot in a dramatic play-off following a rollercoaster final round of play.
Rai nailed a decisive birdie from around eight feet to seal the win, repeating his sole prior tournament success at the Scottish Open in 2020, which was also a play-off win against Fleetwood.
Final Round Drama
Rai started the last day with a one-shot advantage over fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood and Danish golfer Højgaard. He ended up with a total score of 263 after a topsy-turvy, 67 closing round that included seven birdie putts and two bogeys.
Fleetwood edged one shot clear with the 16th and 17th remaining after a birdie on the 16th, but Rai pulled level again on the seventeenth and then failed to convert a 10-foot birdie putt to win outright on the final green.
Playoff Decider
That led to a playoff at Yas Links where Rai prevailed to take the title and $1.5m (£1.13 million) in prize money.
{“Tommy is a phenomenal golfer and an even better person. To compete alongside him the last two days was really special,” said the winner, the current 30th-ranked player globally. “You’re so concentrated on your game and staying in the zone, it’s difficult to describe at the present how it is. It is amazing to be holding the trophy.”
Other Contenders
The Northern Irish star left himself just too much to do, finishing a stroke behind in a tie for third with the Dane, after a spectacular 62 final round of ten-under. It was McIlroy’s lowest-ever round on the European Tour, including eight birdie putts and an eagle.
Højgaard fired six birdies of his as well, but his hopes of leading the leaderboard were dented by a bogey on the twelfth. England’s Mansell produced an excellent final-round seven-under to end up in a tie for fifth place with Australian Hillier.