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The 30-year-old golfer displayed exceptional composure to secure the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the final day, defeating his compatriot in a tense playoff after a topsy-turvy final round of competition.

Rai sank a crucial birdie from around eight feet to clinch the victory, repeating his sole prior Rolex Series success at the Scottish Open in 2020, which was likewise a play-off win against Fleetwood.

Sunday's Play Excitement

The champion entered the final round with a single stroke advantage over countryman Tommy Fleetwood and Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard. He finished with a total score of 263 after a up-and-down, 67 final round that featured seven birdies and a pair of bogeys.

The challenger moved one shot ahead with the 16th and 17th remaining after a birdie 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 final green.

Play-Off Climax

That set up a playoff at Yas Links where Rai triumphed to take the title and $1.5 million (£1.13m) in winnings.

{“Tommy is a phenomenal golfer and an even more person. To play with him the last two days was really special,” stated Rai, the current world No 30. “You’re so concentrated on playing the round and maintaining focus, it’s hard to put into words at the moment how it is. It is amazing to be holding the trophy.”

Notable Contenders

Rory McIlroy left himself a bit too far to make up, finishing one shot short in a shared third place with the Dane, after a spectacular 62 closing round of ten-under. It was his lowest-ever score on the DP World Tour, comprising eight birdies and an eagle.

The Danish golfer carded six birdie putts of his as well, but his hopes of leading the leaderboard were dented by a bogey on the twelfth. England’s Richard Mansell produced an superb last round 63 to finish tied for fifth with Australian Hillier.