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The 30-year-old golfer displayed exceptional nerve to claim the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on Sunday, beating Tommy Fleetwood in a dramatic play-off after a rollercoaster final round of competition.

Rai nailed a crucial birdie from just over eight feet to seal the victory, echoing his sole prior tournament triumph at the 2020 Scottish Open, which was also a play-off victory over Fleetwood.

Sunday's Play Drama

The champion entered the final round with a single stroke lead over countryman Tommy Fleetwood and Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard. He ended up with a overall score of 263 after a up-and-down, five-under closing round that included seven birdie putts and two bogeys.

The challenger edged one shot clear with two holes to play after a birdie on the 16th, but his rival pulled level again on the seventeenth and then missed a ten-foot birdie putt to claim victory on the last green.

Play-Off Climax

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

{“Tommy is a world-class golfer and an even more person. To compete alongside him the last two days was really special,” stated the winner, the current 30th-ranked player globally. “You’re so focused on your game and maintaining focus, it’s hard to put into words at the moment how it feels. It is amazing to be holding the trophy.”

Other Performances

Rory McIlroy left himself a bit too far to make up, finishing one shot behind in a shared third place with Højgaard, after a spectacular 62 closing round of 62. It was his lowest-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 chances of leading the standings were dented by a dropped shot on the 12th. English golfer Richard Mansell hit an superb final-round seven-under to end up tied for fifth with Australian Daniel Hillier.