The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship 2025 ended with a playoff between Tommy Fleetwood and Aaron Rai, who both finished with a tournament record of 25-under total. Rory McIlroy narrowly missed out on joining the playoff, finishing one shot behind the leaders at the Yas Links Golf Course.
Having faced off in a DP World Tour playoff before, Fleetwood and Rai battled it out once again, while McIlroy graciously congratulated the duo on their stellar performances. The Englishmen had previously competed at the 2020 Scottish Open, where Rai emerged victorious over Fleetwood in a playoff.
McIlroy faced pressure during the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and admitted to struggling to maintain patience as Rai set the pace. Despite feeling that he left some opportunities on the course, McIlroy acknowledged the need for low scores to contend in the tournament.
In contrast, Rai and Fleetwood embraced the challenge of competing against a golf legend like McIlroy. Ranked 30th in the world, Rai expressed the significance of the event and the competition it presents on the DP World Tour. Fleetwood also highlighted the importance of patience and commended Rai for his exceptional performance during the tournament.
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