ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Aaron Rai birdied the primary gap of the playoff to beat Tommy Fleetwood and win his first European Tour title in 5 years on the Abu Dhabi Championship on Sunday.
The 2 have been competing for a playoff spot on the European Tour’s 2020 Scottish Open, which Rai additionally gained.
Fleetwood’s birdie try was unsuccessful, leaving Rye with an opportunity for the profitable birdie on the par-5 18th. He suppressed his nervousness and tilted his head again in aid, then hugged his fellow Englishman Fleetwood, who patted him warmly on the chest.
“It is arduous to place into phrases how I really feel in the mean time,” Lai, 30, stated. “It feels nice to be standing right here.”
Rye entered the ultimate spherical with a one-shot lead, however Fleetwood compelled a playoff at Yas Hyperlinks with each gamers tied at 25 underneath.
Dane Nicolai Hojgaard and No. 2 Rory McIlroy – who’ve led the Race to Dubai rankings all season – had a hard-fought end with a one-shot distinction. McIlroy fell simply brief after a powerful last spherical of 62 that included one eagle and eight birdies.
Fleetwood gained the event in 2017 and 2018, which was held at Abu Dhabi Golf Membership. He tied for second place with Hodgegaard in a single day.
