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Aaron Rai demonstrated remarkable nerve to secure the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the final day, defeating Tommy Fleetwood in a tense play-off following a rollercoaster final round of competition.

Rai sank a crucial birdie putt from around eight foot to clinch the win, repeating his only previous Rolex Series success at the 2020 Scottish Open, which was likewise a play-off victory against the same opponent.

Final Round Excitement

Rai entered the final round with a one-shot lead over countryman Tommy Fleetwood and Danish golfer Nicolai Højgaard. He finished with a total score of twenty-under after a up-and-down, 67 final round that featured seven birdies and a pair of bogeys.

Fleetwood moved one shot clear with two holes to play after a birdie on the sixteenth, but his rival pulled level again on the seventeenth and then missed a ten-foot birdie attempt to win outright on the last hole.

Playoff Decider

This set up a playoff at the Yas Links course where Rai prevailed to take the championship and $1.5 million (£1.13 million) in winnings.

{“Tommy is a world-class golfer and an even more individual. To compete alongside him the final two rounds was truly memorable,” stated the winner, the present 30th-ranked player globally. “You’re so focused on playing the round and maintaining focus, it’s difficult to describe at the present how it feels. It is amazing to be stood here.”

Notable Performances

The Northern Irish star left himself a bit too far to do, coming up one shot short in a shared third place with Højgaard, after a stunning 10-under closing round of ten-under. It was his best-ever round on the European Tour, including eight birdie putts and one eagle.

Højgaard fired six birdie putts of his as well, but his chances of leading the standings were hit by a dropped shot on the twelfth. English golfer Richard Mansell hit an excellent last round seven-under to finish tied for fifth with Australian Daniel Hillier.