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Aaron Rai demonstrated remarkable composure to claim the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the final day, beating Tommy Fleetwood in a tense play-off after a rollercoaster last day of competition.

Rai nailed a crucial birdie from around eight foot to clinch the victory, echoing his only previous tournament triumph at the Scottish Open in 2020, which was also a playoff victory over Fleetwood.

Sunday's Play Excitement

The champion started the last day with a one-shot advantage over fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood and Denmark’s Højgaard. He finished with a total score of 263 after a topsy-turvy, 67 final round that featured seven birdie putts and a pair of bogeys.

The challenger edged a stroke clear with two holes to play after a birdie putt on the 16th, but Rai tied it up again on the seventeenth and then failed to convert a 10-foot birdie attempt to claim victory on the final green.

Playoff Decider

This led to a play-off at the Yas Links course where the eventual winner triumphed to take the championship and $1.5m (£1.13m) in prize money.

{“Tommy is a phenomenal golfer and an even better individual. To compete alongside him the last two days was really special,” stated the winner, the present 30th-ranked player globally. “You’re so focused on playing the round and maintaining focus, it’s difficult to put into words at the moment how it is. It is amazing to be holding the trophy.”

Other Performances

Rory McIlroy found himself a bit too far to make up, coming up a stroke short in a tie for third with the Dane, after a stunning 10-under closing round of ten-under. It was McIlroy’s lowest-ever score on the European Tour, comprising eight birdies and one eagle.

Højgaard carded six birdies of his as well, but his hopes of leading the standings were dented by a dropped shot on the 12th. English golfer Mansell hit an excellent last round seven-under to end up in a tie for fifth place with Australian Hillier.