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The 30-year-old golfer displayed remarkable composure to claim the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on the final day, defeating his compatriot in a tense playoff following a rollercoaster final round of play.

The Englishman nailed a decisive birdie putt from around eight feet to clinch the victory, echoing his only previous Rolex Series triumph at the 2020 Scottish Open, which was also a play-off win against Fleetwood.

Sunday's Play Excitement

The champion entered the last day with a single stroke lead over fellow Englishman Fleetwood and Danish golfer Nicolai Højgaard. He ended up with a overall score of 263 after a topsy-turvy, five-under final round that included seven birdies and a pair of bogeys.

The challenger edged one shot ahead with the 16th and 17th remaining after a birdie putt on the sixteenth, but his rival tied it up again on the 17th and then failed to convert a ten-foot birdie attempt to claim victory on the last hole.

Playoff Climax

That led to a playoff at Yas Links where the eventual winner triumphed to claim the title and $1.5m (£1.13 million) in prize money.

{“Tommy is a phenomenal golfer and an even more person. To play with him the last two days was really special,” said the winner, the current 30th-ranked player globally. “You’re so focused on your game and maintaining focus, it’s hard to describe at the present how it is. It is amazing to be holding the trophy.”

Notable Contenders

The Northern Irish star left himself a bit too far to make up, finishing a stroke short in a shared third place with Højgaard, after a stunning 10-under closing round of 62. It was his lowest-ever round on the European Tour, including eight birdies and an eagle.

The Danish golfer fired six birdie putts of his own, but his chances of leading the leaderboard were dented by a dropped shot on the twelfth. English golfer Richard Mansell produced an excellent last round 63 to finish tied for fifth with Australia’s Hillier.