Rai overcomes Fleetwood in play-off to claim AD Championship

Aaron Rai claimed his second Rolex Series crown at the 2025 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship after beating Tommy Fleetwood in a dramatic play-off on Sunday.

The Englishman started the day with a one-shot lead but soon found himself two shots back following a fast start from playing partner Fleetwood.

But a run of four successive birdies on the front nine returned him to the top before Fleetwood regained control on a roller-coaster final day.

Rai produced late fireworks, though, birdieing the 16th and 17th to sit level with Fleetwood at the summit heading down the last.

And although he missed a good chance to win inside 72 holes on the 18th green, he made no mistake with his birdie putt at the first extra hole to become a three-time DP World Tour winner.

Rai, who won his first Rolex Series title at the 2020 Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, made a total of seven birdies - including four in a row from the fourth - and two bogeys in his closing 67 to reach 25 under par, while Fleetwood produced a bogey-free 66 that featured an eagle and four birdies.

Race to Dubai leader Rory McIlroy fired a ten-under-par 62 to sit one shot behind Fleetwood and Rai in a tie for third alongside Nicolai Højgaard.

Daniel Hillier and Richard Mansell were two shots further back on 22 under.

Rai started the week 55th on the season-long standings, needing a big week to book his spot at next week’s DP World Tour Championship, and now he heads there as the Tour’s most recent winner.

Rai, who embraced his father Amrik after clinching victory, said: “It’s hard to sum up. I think you’re just so focused on playing the round and obviously just trying to stay in your zone.

“It’shard to put into words at the moment how this feels or how I’m going to reflect on it.

“But it’s just amazing to be stood here. Tommy is a phenomenal player. He’s an even better person than he is a player and that says a lot.

“To play with him the last two days and be out there with him was really special. So yeah, amazing to be here.”

Speaking about how he bounced back from missing his close-range par putt on the 14th, Rai added: “My caddie Jason (Timmis) was great. Because it was a little bit of a shock to the system really on the 14th, missing a short putt there.

“He was great, just telling me to stay present and just focusing on playing the next shots and trying to finish strong. Made a really good up-and-down on the 15th which really helped.

“Made a nice putt there which certainly gave a little bit of confidence moving forward. That was an important moment. And yeah, it was nice to finish off strongly over the last few holes as well.”

Rai was handed the trophy by Sheikh Nahyan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, while the presentation party also included Aref Al Awani, General Secretary of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, General Abdulla Al Hashmi, President of the Emirates Golf Federation, Abdulfattah Sharaf, Chairman of the Board, HSBC Bank Middle East, Guy Kinnings, CEO of the DP World Tour, Eric Nicoli, Chairman of the European Tour Group and Abdulla Ahmed Mohamed Rasool Alkahoori - Mohamed Rasool Khoory & Sons.

Fans can register for the pre-sale to the 2026 Abu Dhabi Championship from tomorrow by clicking here.

Meanwhile, Nasa Hataoka won her first title in over three years Sunday after beating Yuna Araki in a playoff at the LPGA Japan Classic after rain washed out the final round.

Japan’s Hataoka triumphed in torrential conditions after outduelling compatriot Araki on a makeshift playoff hole, the usually par-four 18th, which had to be shortened to a 130-yard par three.

Hataoka rolled home a curling 10-foot putt for par, which proved enough to clinch her first title since the 2022 LA Open as Araki, 20, carded a bogey four.

“For a long time I wasn’t able to sink putts from that distance and even if my approach play was good, I wouldn’t be able to make birdies,” said the 26-year-old Hataoka.

“The distance of my final putt today tested me and I’m glad I was able to hole it.”

Heavy rain forced play to be suspended early in the final round with large areas of standing water on the sodden course.

Officials then ruled that it was unplayable and round four was cancelled.

The tournament placings were determined after Saturday’s completed third round, with the co-leaders playing off for the title after both finished on 15-under par after 54 holes, one ahead of Japan’s Miyu Yamashita, the current British Open champion, who placed third.