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Aaron Rai displayed remarkable nerve to claim the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the final day, defeating Tommy Fleetwood in a dramatic playoff following a rollercoaster final round of competition.

Rai nailed a decisive birdie putt from around eight foot to clinch the win, repeating his only previous Rolex Series success at the Scottish Open in 2020, which was also a play-off win against Fleetwood.

Sunday's Play Drama

The champion entered the final round with a one-shot advantage over fellow Englishman Fleetwood and Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard. He finished with a total score of twenty-under after a up-and-down, five-under final round that featured seven birdie putts and a pair of bogeys.

Fleetwood moved one shot ahead with two holes remaining after a birdie putt on the 16th, but his rival pulled level again on the seventeenth and then missed a ten-foot birdie putt to win outright on the last hole.

Playoff Climax

This set up a playoff at the Yas Links course where the eventual winner prevailed to take the championship and $1.5 million (£1.13m) in prize money.

{“Tommy is a phenomenal golfer and an even better individual. To play with him the final two rounds was truly memorable,” said Rai, the present world No 30. “You’re so focused on playing the round and maintaining focus, it’s difficult to put into words at the present how it feels. It is amazing to be holding the trophy.”

Notable Performances

Rory McIlroy found himself a bit too far to make up, finishing one shot behind in a tie for third with the Dane, after a spectacular 10-under final round of ten-under. It was McIlroy’s best-ever score on the European Tour, including eight birdie putts and an eagle.

The Danish golfer carded six birdies of his own, but his hopes of topping the standings were hit by a dropped shot on the 12th. English golfer Mansell produced an excellent last round seven-under to finish in a tie for fifth place with Australia’s Hillier.