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Aaron Rai displayed remarkable composure to secure the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the final day, beating Tommy Fleetwood in a dramatic playoff after a topsy-turvy last day of competition.

The Englishman sank a crucial birdie putt from around eight foot to seal the victory, repeating his only previous Rolex Series triumph at the 2020 Scottish Open, which was also a play-off win over the same opponent.

Final Round Excitement

The champion started the final round with a one-shot lead over countryman Fleetwood and Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard. He ended up with a total score of 263 after a topsy-turvy, five-under final round that featured seven birdies and a pair of bogeys.

The challenger edged a stroke ahead with the 16th and 17th to play after a birdie putt on the sixteenth, but his rival pulled level again on the 17th and then missed a 10-foot birdie attempt to win outright on the last hole.

Play-Off Decider

That set up a playoff at Yas Links where the eventual winner prevailed to claim the title and $1.5m (£1.13 million) in prize money.

{“Tommy is a phenomenal player and an even better person. To play with him the final two rounds was really special,” said the winner, the present 30th-ranked player globally. “You’re so focused on playing the round and maintaining focus, it’s hard to describe at the moment how it feels. It is incredible to be holding the trophy.”

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 stunning 62 final round of 62. It was McIlroy’s lowest-ever round on the DP World Tour, including eight birdie putts and one eagle.

Højgaard carded six birdie putts of his own, but his chances of leading the leaderboard were hit by a dropped shot on the twelfth. England’s Mansell produced an excellent final-round 63 to finish tied for fifth with Australia’s Daniel Hillier.