🔗 Share this article Aaron Rai Secures Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in Thrilling Play-Off Showdown Against Tommy Fleetwood The 30-year-old golfer demonstrated exceptional nerve to secure the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on Sunday, beating his compatriot in a dramatic playoff after a topsy-turvy last day of play. The Englishman nailed a decisive birdie from around eight foot to clinch the win, echoing his sole prior tournament success at the 2020 Scottish Open, which was likewise a play-off victory against the same opponent. Sunday's Play Drama The champion started the last day with a single stroke advantage over fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood and Denmark’s Højgaard. He ended up with a total score of twenty-under after a up-and-down, 67 closing round that included seven birdies and two bogeys. Fleetwood edged one shot ahead with the 16th and 17th remaining after a birdie on the sixteenth, but his rival tied it up again on the 17th and then missed a ten-foot birdie attempt to win outright on the last green. Playoff Decider This set up a playoff at Yas Links where Rai triumphed to claim the title and $1.5 million (£1.13 million) in winnings. {“Tommy is a world-class golfer and an even better person. To compete alongside him the final two rounds was really special,” stated Rai, the present world No 30. “You’re so concentrated on playing the round and maintaining focus, it’s difficult to describe at the present how it is. It is incredible to be holding the trophy.” Notable Performances Rory McIlroy left himself a bit too far to do, coming up one shot short in a shared third place with the Dane, after a stunning 10-under closing round of ten-under. It was McIlroy’s best-ever round on the DP World Tour, including eight birdies and an eagle. Højgaard carded six birdies of his as well, but his hopes of topping the leaderboard were dented by a bogey on the 12th. England’s Mansell hit an superb final-round seven-under to finish tied for fifth with Australian Hillier.