🔗 Share this article

The 30-year-old golfer displayed remarkable nerve to secure the prestigious Abu Dhabi title on Sunday, beating Tommy Fleetwood in a tense playoff following a topsy-turvy final round of competition.

Rai sank a decisive birdie putt from around eight foot to seal the win, repeating his only previous tournament success at the 2020 Scottish Open, which was likewise a play-off win over the same opponent.

Sunday's Play Excitement

The champion entered the final round with a single stroke advantage over fellow Englishman Fleetwood and Denmark’s Højgaard. He ended up with a total score of twenty-under after a topsy-turvy, five-under final round that featured seven birdie putts and a pair of bogeys.

The challenger edged one shot clear with the 16th and 17th remaining after a birdie putt on the sixteenth, but his rival pulled level again on the 17th and then missed a ten-foot birdie putt to claim victory on the last green.

Playoff Decider

This set up a play-off at the Yas Links course where the eventual winner triumphed to take the championship and $1.5 million (£1.13m) in winnings.

{“Tommy is a world-class golfer and an even better individual. To compete alongside him the last two days was truly memorable,” said the winner, the current world No 30. “You’re so concentrated on playing the round and staying in the zone, it’s difficult to put into words at the moment how it feels. It is incredible to be holding the trophy.”

Other Performances

The Northern Irish star left himself just too much to do, finishing a stroke short in a tie for third with the Dane, after a stunning 62 closing round of ten-under. It was his lowest-ever round on the DP World Tour, including eight birdie putts and an eagle.

Højgaard fired six birdie putts of his own, but his hopes of leading the standings were dented by a bogey on the 12th. England’s Richard Mansell hit an superb last round 63 to finish in a tie for fifth place with Australia’s Daniel Hillier.