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Aaron Rai displayed remarkable composure to claim the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on Sunday, beating Tommy Fleetwood in a dramatic play-off following a topsy-turvy final round of competition.

The Englishman sank a crucial birdie from just over eight feet to seal the victory, echoing his sole prior tournament success at the 2020 Scottish Open, which was likewise a play-off victory over the same opponent.

Final Round Drama

Rai started the last day with a single stroke advantage over fellow Englishman Fleetwood and Danish golfer Højgaard. He finished with a overall score of 263 after a topsy-turvy, 67 final round that featured seven birdie putts and two bogeys.

The challenger moved a stroke clear with the 16th and 17th remaining after a birdie on the 16th, but Rai pulled level again on the seventeenth and then missed a ten-foot birdie putt to win outright on the final green.

Playoff Climax

That set up a playoff at the Yas Links course where Rai prevailed to claim the championship and $1.5 million (£1.13 million) in prize money.

{“Tommy is a world-class golfer and an even better individual. To compete alongside him the final two rounds was really special,” said the winner, the present world No 30. “You’re so concentrated on playing the round and maintaining focus, it’s hard to describe at the present how it feels. It is amazing to be stood here.”

Notable Contenders

The Northern Irish star left himself a bit too far to make up, finishing one shot behind in a tie for third with Højgaard, after a spectacular 62 closing round of ten-under. It was McIlroy’s best-ever round on the DP World Tour, including eight birdie putts and an eagle.

Højgaard carded six birdies of his as well, but his chances of leading the leaderboard were dented by a bogey on the twelfth. England’s Richard Mansell produced an superb last round 63 to end up in a tie for fifth place with Australia’s Daniel Hillier.