Ryder Cup denial is narrowly topped by Tommy Fleetwood, Rory McIlroy

If you think professional golf is in its off-season, then you must not have been up early enough to watch the 2025 HSBC Abu Dhabi Championship this week. On Sunday, fans who tuned in were treated to a heavyweight matchup of two European Ryder Cup stars: the reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy and world number 5 Tommy Fleetwood.

But in the end, it was another European pro who was left out of the 2025 Ryder Cup team that prevailed: Aaron Ray.

Rory McIlroy makes Sunday’s epic attack in Abu Dhabi

Sunday’s final round at Yas Links was set up as a grudge match between Rai and Fleetwood.

Fleetwood was fresh off wins at the Tour Championship and the DP India World Championship last month. He also played in Europe’s Ryder Cup victory at Bethpage Black.

Rai, who hails from England, failed to win 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 second hole. In Round 3, Rai edged Fleetwood by one to take one narrow lead in the final round.

McIlroy, on the other hand, was unlikely to be a factor. Although he had shot a 66 on Saturday to reach 14 under, that left him six shots out of Rai’s lead on a course where everyone was going downhill.

But the five-time major champion did not back down. Instead, he lit up the course before Rai and Fleetwood were out.

McIlroy birdies the 1st, then birdies the par-5 2nd to move to 17 under, three shots off the lead.

He then parried himself on the second nine, pulling away from holes 10-14 to rocket up the leaderboard. When it was all said and done, McIlroy had recorded a remarkable 10-under 62 to tie for the lead at 24 under.

But with Rai and Fleetwood still in the field with several holes to play, it would not be enough to hand McIlroy the title.

Aaron Rai leads Tommy Fleetwood in playoff after clutch birdies

With McIlroy home at 24, Rai and Fleetwood would need clutch finishes to have a chance of taking home the trophy.

When Fleetwood bogeyed the 12th and Rai bogeyed 14, suddenly Fleetwood was tied with McIlroy at 24, with Rai two back at 23.

Both players birdied 16, with Fleetwood leapfrogging McIlroy by one. On the par-3 17th hole, both players made long putts. But Fleetwood’s was to preserve par. Rai drained his putt for birdie, putting their scores at 25 under heading into the 18th hole.

Much 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 small bird for each would give them the victory.

Fleetwood and Rai could only manage par on the 72nd hole, so they returned to the 18th for a sudden-death playoff. The second time around, Rai drained a mid-range putt for birdie to finally beat Fleetwood and claim victory.