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The 30-year-old golfer demonstrated exceptional nerve to secure the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on Sunday, beating Tommy Fleetwood in a tense play-off following a rollercoaster last day of competition.

Rai nailed a crucial birdie putt from around eight foot to clinch the victory, repeating his only previous tournament triumph at the 2020 Scottish Open, which was also a play-off victory against the same opponent.

Sunday's Play Drama

Rai started the last day with a single stroke lead over fellow Englishman Fleetwood and Denmark’s Højgaard. He ended up with a overall score of 263 after a topsy-turvy, 67 final round that included seven birdie putts and two bogeys.

The challenger moved a stroke clear with the 16th and 17th remaining after a birdie on the sixteenth, but Rai tied it up again on the seventeenth and then failed to convert a ten-foot birdie putt to win outright on the final hole.

Play-Off Decider

This led to a play-off at Yas Links where Rai triumphed to take the title and $1.5m (£1.13m) in winnings.

{“Tommy is a world-class golfer and an even better individual. To compete alongside him the final two rounds was truly memorable,” stated the winner, the current 30th-ranked player globally. “You’re so focused on playing the round and maintaining focus, it’s hard to put into words at the present how it is. It is amazing to be stood here.”

Notable Performances

The Northern Irish star left himself just too much to do, coming up a stroke short in a shared third place with Højgaard, after a stunning 10-under closing round of ten-under. It was McIlroy’s best-ever score on the DP World Tour, comprising eight birdie putts and an eagle.

The Danish golfer fired six birdie putts of his as well, but his hopes of leading the leaderboard were hit by a dropped shot on the 12th. England’s Mansell produced an superb final-round seven-under to end up tied for fifth with Australian Hillier.