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Aaron Rai displayed exceptional nerve to claim the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the final day, beating Tommy Fleetwood in a tense playoff after a topsy-turvy final round of play.

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

Sunday's Play Excitement

Rai started the final round with a single stroke lead over countryman Fleetwood and Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard. He finished with a total score of twenty-under after a topsy-turvy, 67 closing round that featured seven birdie putts and two bogeys.

Fleetwood edged a stroke clear with two holes to play after a birdie on the 16th, but Rai pulled level again on the seventeenth and then missed a 10-foot birdie attempt to claim victory on the last hole.

Play-Off Decider

That set up a playoff at Yas Links where Rai triumphed to claim the championship and $1.5m (£1.13m) in winnings.

{“Tommy is a phenomenal golfer and an even more individual. To compete alongside him the final two rounds was truly memorable,” stated the winner, the current 30th-ranked player globally. “You’re so focused on your game and staying in the zone, it’s hard to put into words at the moment how it feels. It is incredible to be holding the trophy.”

Other Contenders

Rory McIlroy left himself a bit too far to make up, coming up one shot short in a shared third place with the Dane, after a stunning 62 final round of 62. It was his lowest-ever score on the DP World Tour, comprising eight birdies and one eagle.

Højgaard carded six birdie putts of his as well, but his hopes of leading the standings were hit by a bogey on the twelfth. English golfer Richard Mansell hit an superb final-round seven-under to end up tied for fifth with Australian Hillier.