Today's Edition
Kuumar Shyam (Abu Dhabi)
Aaron Rai sealed his return to the winner’s circle with a steely play-off victory over Tommy Fleetwood at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, claiming his second Rolex Series crown and third DP World Tour title after a gripping finale on Sunday.
His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, presented the trophy to Rai at the Yas Links course.
The 30-year-old Englishman, who began the day one shot clear, recovered from a little stumble midway on the back nine to birdie two of his final three holes and force extra time with Fleetwood at 25 under par. Both kept chipping away at it all afternoon in a captivating duel, but Rai held his nerve on the first play-off hole, sinking a clutch birdie putt from six feet after Fleetwood had missed his own chance by inches.
It was a fitting end to one of the most fiercely contested editions of the Abu Dhabi Championship, where the top four were separated by just a single stroke and Race to Dubai leader Rory McIlroy came roaring home with a course record-equalling 62 to finish joint fourth.
For Rai, it was a long-awaited return to the top. His last victory came at the 2020 Scottish Open – also in a play-off, and also against Fleetwood – a coincidence not lost on the soft-spoken Englishman. “It’s hard to put into words at the moment how this feels or how I’m going to reflect on it,” Rai said. “Tommy is a phenomenal player and an even better person. To be out there with him the last two days was really special.”
Rai’s round of 67 featured seven birdies and two bogeys, including a nervy miss from just two feet away on the 14th that could easily have derailed his charge. But his caddie Jason Timmis kept him grounded. “It was a bit of a shock to miss that short putt,” Rai admitted.
“My caddie was great, he kept telling me to just stay present and focus on the next shots. I made a good up-and-down on 15, which really helped, and then a nice putt there which gave me a bit of confidence moving forward. It was nice to finish off strongly over the last few holes.”
Fleetwood, who closed with a bogey-free 66 featuring an eagle at the second, looked poised to secure a record-equalling third Abu Dhabi title when he led by a stroke with four to play. But Rai’s late surge, capped by birdies on 16 and 17, hauled him back level.
Both men missed makeable birdie putts on the 18th in regulation before returning there for the play-off and completed the first play-off hole also in almost identical positions with the ball.
The repeat of their 2020 showdown had ended the same way, with Rai holding his nerve on the first play-off when it mattered most. His victory vaults him from 55th to ninth in the Race to Dubai standings, comfortably securing his spot in next week’s season finale at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
For Dubai-based Fleetwood, it was another case of so near yet so far. The Southport native, who has already won in India this year, missed the chance to join Martin Kaymer as a three-time winner in the capital but still moves to 10th, and behind Rai, in the season-long rankings.
Rai, meanwhile, celebrated quietly with his father Amrik beside the green – a gesture that reflected both relief and pride after what he called “a beautiful year off the course” in which he got married to an Indian golfer. “To win a Rolex Series event of this size and strength is really special,” he said. “Anytime you win on the DP World Tour, it’s a real accomplishment. There’s so much work that goes into it, so I’m just incredibly grateful.”
He now heads to Dubai for one more week of focus before, as he joked, finally switching off for his honeymoon.
