Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood fell short of the £1.1 million first prize as Aaron Rai emerged victorious in a thrilling play-off at the Abu Dhabi Championship. This event marked the conclusion of the first of two DP World Tour Play-off tournaments, signaling the climax of the Race to Dubai.
The competition at Yas Links saw both European Ryder Cup stars, Fleetwood finishing second in the play-off and McIlroy claiming a shared third place. The Abu Dhabi Championship, being a Play-off event, boasted an increased prize pool, totaling nearly £7 million.
Fleetwood received just over £750,000 in prize money, while McIlroy, along with Nicolai Højgaard, secured a combined third and fourth place payout of £752,000. Despite McIlroy starting the final round six shots behind the leader, Rai, a remarkable round of 62 brought him back into contention, although it wasn’t enough to clinch victory.
The thrilling finale saw McIlroy finishing at 24 under, with Fleetwood and Rai both sinking crucial putts on the 17th hole to head into the final tied at 25 under. A missed birdie opportunity by Rai led to a play-off after Fleetwood could only manage a par.
In the sudden-death play-off, both players had birdie chances. Rai, closer to the hole, capitalized on his opportunity after Fleetwood missed his putt, securing the top prize. Rai expressed his elation, emphasizing the intensity of the moment and the honor of playing alongside Fleetwood.
Reflecting on his performance, Rai credited his caddie for keeping him focused during challenging moments, highlighting a crucial up-and-down on the 15th hole that boosted his confidence for the final stretch of the tournament.
The Race to Dubai will culminate with the DP World Tour Championship, commencing on November 13.