If you think that pro golf is in its offseason, then you must not have woken up early enough to watch the 2025 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship this week. On Sunday, fans who did tune in were treated to a heavyweight bout featuring two European Ryder Cup stars: reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy and World No. 5 Tommy Fleetwood.
But, in the end, it was another European pro who was left off the 2025 Ryder Cup team that prevailed: Aaron Rai.
Rory McIlroy makes epic Sunday charge in Abu Dhabi
Sunday’s final round at Yas Links was set up to be a grudge match between Rai and Fleetwood.
Fleetwood was fresh off victories at the Tour Championship and last month’s DP World India Championship. He also starred in Europe’s Ryder Cup win at Bethpage Black.
Rai, who hails from England, failed to earn one of European captain Luke Donald’s captain’s picks after finishing 15th in the final European Ryder Cup standings.
The players were tied for the lead after the second round, during which Rai made an incredible albatross on the par-5 2nd hole. In Round 3, Rai topped Fleetwood by one to take a narrow lead into the final round.
McIlroy, on the other hand, was unlikely to be a factor. Though he’d shot a 66 on Saturday to reach 14 under, that left him six shots off Rai’s lead on a course where everyone was going low.
But the five-time major champion did not back down. Instead, he lit up the course before Rai and Fleetwood had even teed off.
McIlroy made a birdie at the 1st, then eagled the par-5 2nd to move to 17 under, three shots off the lead.
Then he outclassed himself on the second nine, reeling off five-straight birdies from holes 10-14 to rocket up the leaderboard. When it was all over, McIlroy had recorded an incredible 10-under 62 to tie for the lead at 24 under.
But with Rai and Fleetwood still on the course with a few holes left to play, it wouldn’t be enough to give McIlroy the title.
Aaron Rai tops Tommy Fleetwood in playoff after clutch birdies
With McIlroy in the house at 24 under, Rai and Fleetwood would need clutch finishes to have a chance at taking home the trophy.
When Fleetwood birdied the 12th and Rai made bogey at 14, suddenly Fleetwood was tied with McIlroy at 24 under, with Rai two back at 23 under.
Both players made birdie at 16, with Fleetwood jumping in front of McIlroy by one. At the par-3 17th hole, both players made long putts. But Fleetwood’s was to save par. Rai drained his putt for birdie, knotting their scores at 25 under heading to the 18th hole.
A lot was on the line at the closing hole. Bogeys for the two leaders would force a four-man playoff with McIlroy and Nicolai Hojgaard. A birdie for either would give them the victory.
