The English golfer Secures Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in Thrilling Play-Off Battle Versus Tommy Fleetwood
The 30-year-old golfer demonstrated remarkable composure to claim the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the final day, beating Tommy Fleetwood in a tense playoff following a topsy-turvy final round of competition.
Rai nailed a decisive birdie from just over eight foot to clinch the win, echoing his only previous Rolex Series success at the Scottish Open in 2020, which was likewise a play-off victory over Fleetwood.
Sunday's Play Excitement
The champion started the final round with a one-shot advantage over countryman Fleetwood and Danish golfer Højgaard. He ended up with a total score of 263 after a up-and-down, 67 final round that featured seven birdie putts and two bogeys.
Fleetwood edged a stroke clear with the 16th and 17th to play after a birdie on the 16th, but his rival tied it up again on the seventeenth and then missed a ten-foot birdie putt to claim victory on the final green.
Play-Off Decider
That led to a playoff 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 more person. To compete alongside him the final two rounds was truly memorable,” stated the winner, the present world No 30. “You’re so concentrated on your game and maintaining focus, it’s hard to put into words at the moment how it is. It is incredible to be stood here.”
Other Performances
Rory McIlroy left himself just too much to do, coming up one shot short in a tie for third with Højgaard, after a spectacular 10-under closing round of 62. It was his lowest-ever score on the European Tour, comprising eight birdie putts and an eagle.
Højgaard carded six birdie putts of his own, but his chances of topping the leaderboard were dented by a bogey on the 12th. England’s Mansell produced an excellent last round 63 to end up tied for fifth with Australia’s Daniel Hillier.
