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Aaron Rai demonstrated exceptional composure to secure the prestigious Abu Dhabi title on Sunday, beating his compatriot in a tense playoff following a topsy-turvy final round of competition.

Rai sank a decisive birdie putt from around eight feet to seal the victory, repeating his only previous Rolex Series triumph at the Scottish Open in 2020, which was also a playoff victory over the same opponent.

Sunday's Play Drama

The champion started the final round with a single stroke lead over countryman Tommy Fleetwood and Danish golfer Nicolai Højgaard. He finished with a total score of 263 after a topsy-turvy, five-under final round that included seven birdies and a pair of bogeys.

Fleetwood edged one shot ahead with the 16th and 17th to play after a birdie putt on the 16th, but his rival tied it up again on the 17th and then missed a 10-foot birdie putt to win outright on the last hole.

Playoff Climax

This set up a play-off at the Yas Links course where the eventual winner triumphed to claim the championship and $1.5 million (£1.13m) in prize money.

{“Tommy is a world-class player and an even more individual. To play with him the last two days was really special,” stated the winner, the present 30th-ranked player globally. “You’re so focused on your game and staying in the zone, it’s hard to describe at the moment how it feels. It is amazing to be holding the trophy.”

Notable Contenders

The Northern Irish star left himself a bit too far to make up, finishing a stroke behind in a tie for third with Højgaard, after a stunning 10-under closing round of 62. It was McIlroy’s best-ever round on the DP World Tour, including eight birdie putts and an eagle.

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