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The 30-year-old golfer demonstrated remarkable nerve to claim the prestigious Abu Dhabi title on the final day, defeating his compatriot in a tense play-off after a topsy-turvy final round of competition.

Rai nailed a decisive birdie putt from around eight feet to seal the victory, echoing his only previous tournament success at the Scottish Open in 2020, which was also a play-off victory over the same opponent.

Sunday's Play Excitement

The champion started the last day with a one-shot advantage over countryman Tommy Fleetwood and Danish golfer Højgaard. He finished with a overall score of twenty-under after a topsy-turvy, 67 closing round that included seven birdie putts and a pair of bogeys.

Fleetwood edged a stroke ahead with the 16th and 17th remaining after a birdie putt on the 16th, but Rai tied it up again on the seventeenth and then failed to convert a ten-foot birdie putt to win outright on the last hole.

Play-Off Decider

That set up a play-off at the Yas Links course where Rai triumphed to claim the championship and $1.5m (£1.13 million) in prize money.

{“Tommy is a world-class golfer and an even more person. To compete alongside him the final two rounds was truly memorable,” said the winner, the current 30th-ranked player globally. “You’re so concentrated on playing the round and maintaining focus, it’s hard to put into words at the moment how it feels. It is amazing to be holding the trophy.”

Other Contenders

Rory McIlroy left himself just too much to make up, finishing one shot behind in a tie for third with the Dane, after a spectacular 10-under closing round of 62. It was McIlroy’s best-ever round on the DP World Tour, comprising eight birdie putts and an eagle.

The Danish golfer carded six birdie putts of his own, but his hopes of leading the leaderboard were dented by a bogey on the twelfth. English golfer Mansell produced an excellent last round 63 to finish in a tie for fifth place with Australia’s Daniel Hillier.