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The 30-year-old golfer demonstrated remarkable nerve to secure the prestigious Abu Dhabi title on Sunday, beating his compatriot in a dramatic playoff following a topsy-turvy last day of competition.

The Englishman nailed a crucial birdie putt from just over eight feet to clinch the victory, repeating his only previous tournament success at the Scottish Open in 2020, which was also a playoff win against the same opponent.

Final Round Drama

Rai entered the last day with a one-shot lead over countryman Tommy Fleetwood and Danish golfer Nicolai Højgaard. He finished with a total score of twenty-under after a up-and-down, 67 final round that featured seven birdies and a pair of bogeys.

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

Playoff Decider

That led to a playoff at Yas Links where the eventual winner triumphed to claim the title and $1.5m (£1.13m) in prize money.

{“Tommy is a phenomenal golfer and an even more person. To compete alongside him the final two rounds was truly memorable,” stated the winner, the present 30th-ranked player globally. “You’re so concentrated on your game and staying in the zone, it’s hard to put into words at the present how it is. It is amazing to be stood here.”

Other Performances

The Northern Irish star left himself just too much to do, finishing a stroke short in a tie for third with the Dane, after a spectacular 10-under closing round of 62. It was his lowest-ever round on the European Tour, comprising eight birdie putts and an eagle.

Højgaard carded six birdie putts of his own, but his chances of leading the leaderboard were dented by a dropped shot on the twelfth. England’s Richard Mansell produced an superb final-round 63 to finish in a tie for fifth place with Australian Daniel Hillier.