Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood fell short of the £1.1 million top prize at the Abu Dhabi Championship, as Aaron Rai emerged victorious in a thrilling play-off. The first of the DP World Tour Play-off events concluded, marking a crucial stage in the Race to Dubai competition.
European Ryder Cup stars displayed strong performances at Yas Links, with Fleetwood narrowly missing out in the play-off and McIlroy securing a joint third-place finish. The Abu Dhabi Championship, designated as a Play-off event, featured an increased prize purse totaling nearly £7 million.
Fleetwood claimed just over £750,000 in prize money, while McIlroy shared £752,000 with Nicolai Højgaard for the third and fourth positions. Despite starting the final round six shots behind the leader, Rai, McIlroy surged back into contention with an impressive round of 62, but fell short of clinching the title.
McIlroy finished at 24 under, with Fleetwood and Rai both sinking crucial putts on the 17th hole to head into the final tiebreaker at 25 under. Following Fleetwood’s par, Rai had a chance to secure victory with a birdie putt that narrowly missed, leading to a playoff.
In the playoff, both contenders had birdie opportunities. Rai clinched the title by sinking his putt after Fleetwood missed his attempt. Reflecting on his win, Rai expressed his focus and gratitude for the experience of playing alongside Fleetwood.
Overcoming a setback with a missed putt on the 14th hole, Rai credited his caddie for providing crucial support and guidance to finish strong. The Race to Dubai will culminate with the DP World Tour Championship, commencing on November 13.