ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Aaron Rai made a birdie on the primary playoff gap to beat Tommy Fleetwood and win the Abu Dhabi Championship on Sunday for his first European tour title in 5 years.
The 2 had contested a playoff on the European Tour on the 2020 Scottish Open, which Rai additionally gained.
Fleetwood’s birdie try fell quick leaving Rai a birdie likelihood to win on the par-5 18th. He held his nerve, tilted his head again in aid after which hugged his fellow Englishman Fleetwood, who patted him warmly on the chest.
“It is exhausting to place into phrases in the mean time how this feels,” the 30-year-old Rai stated. “It feels wonderful to be stood right here.”
Rai took a one-stroke lead into the ultimate spherical however Fleetwood pressured a playoff with each gamers tied at 25 below at Yas Hyperlinks.
Dane Nicolai Hojgaard and No. 2-ranked Rory McIlroy — the chief of the season-long Race to Dubai standings — have been one stroke behind in an intense end. McIlroy simply fell quick after an excellent ultimate spherical of 62 that includes one eagle and eight birdies.
Fleetwood gained the event in 2017 and ’18 when the occasion was held at Abu Dhabi Golf Membership. He was tied for second in a single day with Hojgaard.
