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The 30-year-old golfer displayed exceptional nerve to claim the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship on Sunday, beating his compatriot in a tense playoff following a rollercoaster last day of competition.

The Englishman nailed a decisive birdie from around eight feet to seal the win, repeating his sole prior Rolex Series triumph at the 2020 Scottish Open, which was likewise a play-off win against the same opponent.

Sunday's Play Excitement

The champion entered the last day with a one-shot lead over countryman Tommy Fleetwood and Danish golfer Højgaard. He finished with a overall score of twenty-under after a up-and-down, 67 closing round that featured seven birdies and a pair of bogeys.

Fleetwood moved a stroke clear with the 16th and 17th to play after a birdie putt on the sixteenth, but his rival tied it up again on the seventeenth and then failed to convert a 10-foot birdie attempt to win outright on the final hole.

Play-Off Decider

That set up a playoff at Yas Links where the eventual winner prevailed to take the championship and $1.5 million (£1.13m) in prize money.

{“Tommy is a world-class golfer and an even better individual. To compete alongside him the final two rounds was truly memorable,” said the winner, the present world No 30. “You’re so concentrated on playing the round and maintaining focus, it’s hard to put into words at the moment how it is. It is incredible to be holding the trophy.”

Other Performances

The Northern Irish star left himself just too much to do, coming up a stroke behind in a tie for third with Højgaard, after a stunning 10-under closing round of 62. It was his lowest-ever score on the European Tour, including eight birdie putts and an eagle.

Højgaard fired six birdies of his as well, but his hopes of topping the leaderboard were dented by a bogey on the twelfth. English golfer Mansell produced an superb final-round 63 to finish in a tie for fifth place with Australian Hillier.