The English golfer Clinches Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in Thrilling Playoff Showdown Against Tommy Fleetwood
The 30-year-old golfer demonstrated remarkable nerve to claim the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the final day, beating his compatriot in a tense playoff after a topsy-turvy last day of competition.
The Englishman nailed a decisive birdie from around eight feet to clinch the victory, repeating his only previous tournament success at the 2020 Scottish Open, which was also a playoff win against Fleetwood.
Sunday's Play Excitement
The champion entered the final round with a single stroke lead over fellow Englishman Fleetwood and Denmark’s Nicolai Højgaard. He finished with a overall score of twenty-under after a up-and-down, five-under closing round that featured seven birdies and a pair of bogeys.
Fleetwood edged one shot clear with the 16th and 17th to play after a birdie putt on the sixteenth, but his rival pulled level again on the seventeenth and then failed to convert a 10-foot birdie putt to claim victory on the last hole.
Playoff Climax
That led to a playoff at the Yas Links course where the eventual winner triumphed to claim the title and $1.5m (£1.13 million) in winnings.
{“Tommy is a world-class player and an even more person. To play with him the last two days was really special,” said the winner, the present world No 30. “You’re so focused on your game and staying in the zone, it’s hard to put into words at the present how it is. It is amazing to be holding the trophy.”
Other Contenders
Rory McIlroy left himself a bit too far to do, finishing a stroke short in a tie for third with the Dane, after a spectacular 10-under closing round of 62. It was McIlroy’s best-ever score on the European Tour, including eight birdies and one eagle.
Højgaard carded six birdies of his as well, but his chances of topping the leaderboard were hit by a bogey on the twelfth. English golfer Mansell hit an excellent final-round seven-under to finish tied for fifth with Australian Hillier.
