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Aaron Rai demonstrated remarkable nerve to secure the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the final day, defeating Tommy Fleetwood in a tense playoff after a topsy-turvy final round of play.

Rai sank a decisive birdie from around eight foot to clinch the victory, repeating his sole prior tournament triumph at the Scottish Open in 2020, which was likewise a play-off win over Fleetwood.

Sunday's Play Excitement

Rai entered the last day with a one-shot advantage over countryman Tommy Fleetwood and Danish golfer Nicolai Højgaard. He finished with a total score of 263 after a up-and-down, 67 final round that included seven birdies and a pair of bogeys.

The challenger moved one shot clear 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 ten-foot birdie attempt to win outright on the last hole.

Play-Off Climax

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

{“Tommy is a phenomenal player and an even better individual. To compete alongside him the last two days was truly memorable,” said Rai, the present 30th-ranked player globally. “You’re so concentrated on your game and staying in the zone, it’s difficult to describe at the present how it feels. It is amazing to be stood here.”

Other Contenders

The Northern Irish star left himself just too much to do, finishing a stroke behind in a shared third place with Højgaard, after a stunning 62 closing round of ten-under. It was his lowest-ever round on the European Tour, including eight birdie putts and an eagle.

Højgaard fired six birdie putts of his as well, but his chances of topping the leaderboard were dented by a dropped shot on the twelfth. England’s Mansell hit an excellent last round seven-under to end up in a tie for fifth place with Australia’s Hillier.