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The 30-year-old golfer displayed exceptional nerve to secure the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the final day, defeating his compatriot in a dramatic play-off following a topsy-turvy final round of play.

Rai sank a crucial birdie putt from around eight foot to clinch the victory, echoing his only previous Rolex Series success at the 2020 Scottish Open, which was likewise a playoff victory against the same opponent.

Final Round Drama

Rai entered the final round with a one-shot advantage over fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood and Danish golfer Højgaard. He finished with a total score of twenty-under after a up-and-down, five-under final round that featured seven birdie putts and two bogeys.

The challenger edged one shot clear with two holes remaining after a birdie on the sixteenth, but his rival tied it up again on the seventeenth and then failed to convert a ten-foot birdie putt to win outright on the last green.

Play-Off Climax

This led to a playoff at the Yas Links course where the eventual winner prevailed to take the championship and $1.5m (£1.13 million) in winnings.

{“Tommy is a world-class golfer and an even better person. To compete alongside him the last two days was really special,” stated the winner, the current 30th-ranked player globally. “You’re so focused on playing the round and maintaining focus, it’s hard to describe at the present how it feels. It is incredible to be stood here.”

Other Performances

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 10-under closing round of ten-under. It was his best-ever round on the European Tour, including eight birdies and an eagle.

The Danish golfer carded six birdie putts of his as well, but his hopes of leading the standings were dented by a bogey on the twelfth. England’s Richard Mansell produced an excellent final-round seven-under to end up in a tie for fifth place with Australia’s Hillier.