Five Scots secure Dubai date as former Scottish Open champion wins in Abu Dhabi
Bob MacIntyre up to fifth in Race to Dubai after strong finish at Yas Links
Five Scots progressed to the DP World Tour’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai as Aaron Rai beat Tommy Fleetwood for the second time in a play-off to become a Rolex Series winner.
On the back of a last-day 65 that secured a share of ninth position behind Rai in the $9 million Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, Bob MacIntyre jumped a spot to fifth in the Race to Dubai Rankings heading into the $10 million season finale at Jumeirah Golf Estates.
The Oban man will be joined in flying the Saltire on the Earth Course, where the action starts on Thursday, by Calum Hill (37th), Grant Forrest (43rd), Ewen Ferguson (45th) and Connor Syme (49th) after they also stayed in the top 50 on the points list at the end of the first of two Play-Off events in the UAE.
Syme, who landed his breakthrough win in the KLM Open earlier this year, had been outside the cut-off mark in the projected standings at the halfway mark at Yas Links before carding a timely best-of-the-day 63 in the third round. The 30-year-old then started double bogey-bogey in the closing circuit to find himself feeling a bit of heat again, but it was job done as he battled back to salvage a 72.
Dubai-based Ferguson also came up with a low score when he needed one, signing off with a plucky 66 that included an eagle and five birdies when an off day could have seen him miss out on the end-of-season bash.
Beating Tommy Fleetwood in play-off was ‘really special’
As had been the case in the 2020 Genesis Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club, Rai pipped Fleetwood in a sudden-death shoot-out to land the Rolex Series title in Abu Dhabi, where the pair finished a shot ahead of Rory McIlroy after the Race to Dubai leader signed off with a 62 - his lowest-ever score on the DP World Tour.
“It's hard to sum up,” said Rai of his third win on the circuit, one that lifted him from 55th to ninth in the Race to Dubai. “Just amazing to be stood here. Tommy is a phenomenal player and he's an even better person than he is a player, and that says a lot. To play with him the last two days, and to be able to be in a play-off with him was really special as well.”
McIlroy’s effort cemented his position at the top of the points table as he bids to claim the Harry Vardon Trophy for the fourth year in a row and seventh time in total. “Obviously ended up one short but great day of golf and a great way to end the week,” said McIlroy, who signed for an eagle and eight birdies, including five on the spin at the start of the back nine. “And also a great way to sort of go into next week in Dubai as well.”
Elsewhere, Gregor Graham is the leading Scot after three rounds in the DP World Tour Qualifying School Final Stage at Infinitum Golf in Spain. Having followed opening rounds of 69-70 with a 71 on the Hills Course at the Tarragona venue, Graham sits joint-44th on five under.
As Scottish-born Connor McKinney reached the halfway stage in a card-winning position on 12 under, Sam Locke and Marc Warren are both on four under while Craig Howie is well down the field on two under after having the wind taken out his sails by a double-bogey 7 early in the third round.
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