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The 30-year-old golfer displayed exceptional composure to claim the prestigious Abu Dhabi title on the final day, beating his compatriot in a dramatic playoff after a topsy-turvy last day of play.

The Englishman sank a crucial birdie putt from around eight foot to clinch the victory, repeating his only previous Rolex Series success at the 2020 Scottish Open, which was also a playoff win against the same opponent.

Final Round Excitement

Rai entered the last day with a one-shot advantage over countryman Tommy Fleetwood and Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard. He finished with a total score of twenty-under after a topsy-turvy, five-under final round that featured seven birdie putts and two bogeys.

The challenger moved a stroke clear with the 16th and 17th to play after a birdie putt on the sixteenth, but Rai pulled level again on the 17th and then missed a 10-foot birdie attempt to win outright on the last green.

Play-Off Decider

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

{“Tommy is a world-class golfer and an even better individual. To play with him the last two days was really special,” said the winner, the current 30th-ranked player globally. “You’re so concentrated on playing the round and staying in the zone, it’s difficult to put into words at the moment how it is. It is incredible to be stood here.”

Notable Contenders

The Northern Irish star found himself a bit too far to do, coming up one shot short in a tie for third with Højgaard, after a spectacular 62 final round of ten-under. It was his lowest-ever score on the European Tour, comprising eight birdies and one eagle.

The Danish golfer fired six birdie putts of his as well, but his chances of leading the leaderboard were dented by a bogey on the twelfth. English golfer Mansell produced an superb last round seven-under to finish in a tie for fifth place with Australian Daniel Hillier.