Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood fell short of the £1.1 million top prize at the Abu Dhabi Championship, with Aaron Rai emerging victorious in a thrilling play-off. The tournament marked the first of the DP World Tour Play-off events as the Race to Dubai nears its conclusion.
European Ryder Cup stars showcased their skills at Yas Links, where Fleetwood narrowly missed out in the play-off, while McIlroy secured a joint third-place finish. As a Play-off event, the Abu Dhabi Championship saw an increase in prize money, with a total purse of nearly £7 million up for grabs.
Fleetwood received just over £750,000 for his performance, while McIlroy shared £752,000 with Nicolai Højgaard, who also finished in fourth place. Despite starting the final round six shots behind the leader Rai, McIlroy’s impressive round of 62 propelled him back into contention but ultimately fell short of the win.
In a tense finish, McIlroy finished at 24 under, with Fleetwood and Rai both sinking crucial putts on the 17th hole to head into the final hole tied at 25 under. After Fleetwood managed only a par, Rai had an opportunity to clinch victory but narrowly missed, leading to a play-off.
At the first extra hole, both players had birdie putts, with Rai sealing the win by sinking his putt after Fleetwood missed his attempt. Rai expressed his elation at the victory, emphasizing the challenge of staying focused during the round.
Reflecting on his performance, Rai credited his caddie for helping him navigate through challenges, including a setback at the 14th hole. The Race to Dubai will conclude with the DP World Tour Championship commencing on November 13.
