Rai Edges Fleetwood to Win Abu Dhabi Playoff
Aaron Rai triumphed over Tommy Fleetwood on the first playoff hole to claim the Abu Dhabi Championship on Sunday. Rai demonstrated remarkable composure after returning from a short break, during which he married Indian professional golfer Gaurika Bishnoi.
At Yas Links, Rai secured the win with a 12-foot birdie putt, while Fleetwood missed a longer-range opportunity. Both finished regulation play at 25 under par, with Rai shooting a final-round 67 and Fleetwood a 66.
Player Performance and Records
- This victory marked Rai’s third DP World Tour title and his first since 2020.
- His last win was 14 months ago on the PGA Tour at the Wyndham Championship.
“I didn’t really have too many expectations coming into it. I actually came here two weeks ago to do a bit of practice, which helped massively. I wasn’t sure what to expect, so to be sat here now is hard to put into words.”
Impact on Rankings
The win is expected to raise Rai to world No. 23 and seventh in the Race to Dubai standings ahead of the season-ending event next week.
Other Top Performers
World No. 2 Rory McIlroy shot a bogey-free 10-under 62 to finish tied for third along with Denmark’s Nicolai Hojgaard, who closed with a 67. This marked McIlroy’s 10th top-three finish in a tournament he has yet to win.
New Zealand's Daniel Hillier (67) and England’s Richard Mansell (63) tied for fifth place at 22 under par.
Summary: Aaron Rai clinched the Abu Dhabi Championship in a playoff over Tommy Fleetwood, marking an important comeback victory and improving his ranking ahead of the season finale.