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

Rai nailed a decisive birdie from just over eight foot to clinch the victory, repeating his only previous Rolex Series success at the 2020 Scottish Open, which was likewise a playoff victory against Fleetwood.

Final Round Drama

Rai started the last day with a one-shot advantage over fellow Englishman Fleetwood and Danish golfer Højgaard. He finished with a overall score of 263 after a topsy-turvy, five-under final round that featured seven birdies and a pair of bogeys.

Fleetwood moved one shot ahead with the 16th and 17th to play after a birdie putt on the 16th, but Rai tied it up again on the seventeenth and then failed to convert a ten-foot birdie attempt to claim victory on the final green.

Playoff Decider

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

{“Tommy is a phenomenal player and an even more person. To play with him the final two rounds was truly memorable,” said Rai, the present world No 30. “You’re so focused on playing the round and staying in the zone, it’s hard to put into words at the present how it is. It is incredible to be stood here.”

Other Performances

Rory McIlroy left himself just too much to do, coming up one shot behind in a shared third place with Højgaard, after a stunning 62 closing round of ten-under. It was his best-ever score on the European Tour, including eight birdie putts and one eagle.

The Danish golfer carded six birdies of his own, but his hopes of leading the standings were dented by a dropped shot on the twelfth. English golfer Mansell hit an superb last round seven-under to end up in a tie for fifth place with Australian Hillier.