Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood fell short of a £1.1 million top prize at the Abu Dhabi Championship, where Aaron Rai emerged victorious in a thrilling play-off. The first of the two DP World Tour Play-off events has concluded as the Race to Dubai heads towards its climax.
The Yas Links saw two European Ryder Cup stars competing fiercely, with Fleetwood losing in the play-off while McIlroy secured a third-place tie. The Abu Dhabi Championship, designated as a Play-off tournament, featured an increased prize pool of nearly £7 million.
Fleetwood received 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’s impressive 62 pushed him back into contention but fell short of the win.
McIlroy finished at 24 under, leading to a dramatic tie between Fleetwood and Rai at 25 under after sinking crucial putts on the 17th hole. Following a par from Fleetwood and a missed birdie opportunity from Rai, the tournament headed into a play-off.
In the play-off, both players had birdie putts with Rai clinching the victory after Fleetwood missed his attempt. Rai expressed his elation after the win, highlighting the intensity of the moment and his respect for Fleetwood’s skills and sportsmanship.
Reflecting on his recovery from a challenging moment on the course, Rai praised his caddie for providing crucial support and guidance to help him finish strong over the final holes. The Race to Dubai will culminate with the DP World Tour Championship starting on November 13.