Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood fell short of the £1.1 million top prize at the Abu Dhabi Championship, with Aaron Rai emerging victorious in a thrilling play-off. The first of two DP World Tour Play-off events has concluded as the Race to Dubai nears its conclusion.

Yas Links saw two European Ryder Cup stars in contention, with Fleetwood narrowly missing out in the play-off and McIlroy securing a tie for third place. The tournament’s Play-off status led to an increased prize pool of nearly £7 million.

Fleetwood received just over £750,000 in prize money, while McIlroy shared £752,000 with Nicolai Højgaard for finishing third and fourth, respectively. Despite starting the final round six shots behind leader Rai, McIlroy’s impressive round of 62 propelled him back into contention but fell short of victory.

With McIlroy finishing at 24 under, both Fleetwood and Rai made crucial putts on the 17th hole to head into the final tie at 25 under. Rai had a chance to secure victory with a birdie putt on the last hole but missed, leading to a play-off.

In the play-off, both players had birdie putts, with Rai ultimately sinking his to claim the top prize after Fleetwood missed his attempt. Reflecting on his win, Rai expressed his focus and gratitude towards Fleetwood, highlighting the special experience of competing alongside him.

Despite facing challenges during the round, including a missed putt on the 14th hole, Rai credited his caddie for keeping him focused and helping him finish strongly over the last three holes.

The DP World Tour Championship, starting on November 13, will mark the conclusion of the Race to Dubai.