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Aaron Rai displayed remarkable composure to claim the prestigious Abu Dhabi title on the final day, beating Tommy Fleetwood in a dramatic playoff following a topsy-turvy last day of competition.

Rai nailed a decisive birdie putt from around eight foot to clinch the victory, echoing his sole prior Rolex Series triumph at the 2020 Scottish Open, which was also a playoff victory over Fleetwood.

Final Round Excitement

Rai started the last day with a one-shot advantage over countryman Fleetwood and Danish golfer Nicolai Højgaard. He finished with a total score of 263 after a topsy-turvy, 67 final round that included seven birdies and two bogeys.

The challenger edged a stroke ahead with the 16th and 17th to play after a birdie putt on the 16th, but Rai tied it up again on the seventeenth and then failed to convert a ten-foot birdie putt to claim victory on the last hole.

Playoff Decider

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

{“Tommy is a world-class golfer and an even better individual. To compete alongside him the final two rounds was really special,” stated the winner, the current 30th-ranked player globally. “You’re so focused on playing the round and staying in the zone, it’s difficult to put into words at the moment how it feels. It is amazing to be stood here.”

Notable Contenders

Rory McIlroy left himself a bit too far to do, coming up a stroke short in a tie for third with the Dane, after a spectacular 62 final round of 62. It was McIlroy’s best-ever round on the European Tour, including eight birdies and one eagle.

Højgaard fired six birdies of his own, but his hopes of leading the leaderboard were hit by a dropped shot on the 12th. England’s Mansell produced an superb final-round seven-under to finish tied for fifth with Australia’s Daniel Hillier.