Tommy Fleetwood Heartbroken After Playoff Loss at Abu Dhabi Championship
Tommy Fleetwood was narrowly defeated by Aaron Rai in a playoff at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the DP World Tour. Rai clinched the title with a birdie on the first extra hole, the par-5 18th at Yas Links.
Both players finished the tournament at an impressive 25-under par, setting a new tournament record. They ended one shot ahead of Nicolai Hojgaard and Rory McIlroy, who closed strongly with a 62-shot round. Daniel Hillier and Richard Mansell completed the top five with 22-under par.
For Aaron Rai, the victory marked his third DP World Tour title and second Rolex Series win. Notably, Rai also defeated Fleetwood in a playoff to win the Scottish Open in October 2020. Rai's prize for this win was $1.53 million, the largest of his career.
"It's hard to sum up," said Rai, who jumped 46 spots to ninth in the Race to Dubai rankings. "I was so focused playing the round and obviously trying to stay in the zone, it's hard to put into words as to how this feels and how I'll reflect on it. It's amazing to be stood here."
Top Performers at Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship
- Aaron Rai – Champion, 25-under par, $1.53 million prize
- Tommy Fleetwood – Runner-up, 25-under par
- Nicolai Hojgaard – Third place, 24-under par
- Rory McIlroy – Fourth place, 24-under par, final round 62 shots
- Daniel Hillier and Richard Mansell – Fifth place, 22-under par
Summary
This thrilling playoff highlighted Aaron Rai's resilience and excellence, beating Tommy Fleetwood at a record-breaking Abu Dhabi Championship and earning the biggest prize of his career.