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The 30-year-old golfer displayed exceptional nerve to claim the prestigious Abu Dhabi title on the final day, beating Tommy Fleetwood in a tense playoff following a topsy-turvy last day of play.

The Englishman nailed a decisive birdie putt from just over eight feet to clinch the victory, echoing his only previous tournament triumph at the 2020 Scottish Open, which was also a play-off win against the same opponent.

Sunday's Play Excitement

The champion entered the last day with a single stroke lead over fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood and Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard. He ended up with a total score of twenty-under after a up-and-down, 67 closing round that included seven birdie putts and a pair of bogeys.

Fleetwood moved a stroke ahead with the 16th and 17th to play after a birdie on the sixteenth, but his rival tied it up again on the 17th and then failed to convert a 10-foot birdie attempt to claim victory on the last green.

Play-Off Climax

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

{“Tommy is a world-class golfer and an even more individual. To compete alongside him the final two rounds was truly memorable,” stated Rai, the present 30th-ranked player globally. “You’re so focused on playing the round and staying in the zone, it’s difficult to describe at the present how it is. It is incredible to be holding the trophy.”

Notable Contenders

Rory McIlroy left himself a bit too far to make up, coming up one shot short in a tie for third with Højgaard, after a spectacular 10-under final round of 62. It was his best-ever score on the European Tour, comprising eight birdie putts and an eagle.

The Danish golfer fired six birdie putts of his as well, but his chances of leading the standings were dented by a dropped shot on the twelfth. England’s Richard Mansell hit an excellent final-round 63 to finish in a tie for fifth place with Australian Hillier.