🔗 Share this article The English golfer Secures Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in Dramatic Playoff Battle Against Fellow Englishman Fleetwood Aaron Rai demonstrated remarkable composure to claim the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on Sunday, beating Tommy Fleetwood in a dramatic playoff following a rollercoaster final round of play. The Englishman sank a decisive birdie from just over eight foot to clinch the victory, repeating his sole prior tournament success at the Scottish Open in 2020, which was also a playoff win over Fleetwood. Sunday's Play Excitement Rai entered the last day with a single stroke advantage over countryman Fleetwood and Denmark’s Højgaard. He finished with a total score of 263 after a topsy-turvy, 67 final round that featured seven birdies and two bogeys. The challenger edged a stroke clear with the 16th and 17th to play after a birdie putt on the sixteenth, but Rai pulled level again on the seventeenth and then failed to convert a ten-foot birdie putt to win outright on the last hole. Play-Off Decider That led to a play-off at Yas Links where Rai triumphed to take the title and $1.5m (£1.13 million) in prize money. {“Tommy is a world-class golfer and an even better person. To play with him the last two days was really special,” stated the winner, the present world No 30. “You’re so focused on your game and maintaining focus, it’s difficult to describe at the moment how it is. It is incredible to be stood here.” Other Performances The Northern Irish star left himself just too much to do, finishing a stroke short in a tie for third with Højgaard, after a stunning 10-under closing round of 62. It was his lowest-ever score on the European Tour, including eight birdie putts and one eagle. Højgaard fired six birdies of his as well, but his chances of leading the leaderboard were dented by a dropped shot on the 12th. English golfer Richard Mansell hit an excellent final-round 63 to finish in a tie for fifth place with Australia’s Hillier.