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Aaron Rai’s Winning WITB at Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

All Square 3 min read • 10 Nov

Aaron Rai’s victory at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship felt both inevitable and thrilling. On the brilliant fairways of Yas Links he produced birdies when it mattered, held his nerve in a playoff and claimed the title with his usual calm confidence. What makes this win even more fascinating for gear-fans is the fact that Rai did it with a rather unique bag setup — including a driver that’s six years old by equipment standards, iron headcovers (yes, you read that right) and his trademark double-gloves.

He locked down the win by beating fellow countryman Tommy Fleetwood on the first playoff hole after navigating a final round full of momentum swings. Rai shot a 5-under 67 in the final round, overcame a late miss, then birdied the 18th to force extra holes, and closed it out in style. That clutch finish under pressure tells you a lot about how far he’s come — and sets the stage for what’s next for this 30-year-old Englishman.

From turning professional in 2012 to earning his third European Tour title at Abu Dhabi, Aaron Rai’s career has steadily climbed. He broke through with wins on the Challenge Tour, moved up to the European Tour and has combined clever shot-making with strong mental toughness. His willingness to stick with familiar gear and quirky personal touches (two gloves, headcovers on irons!) only adds to his aura of authenticity — and makes his equipment story as compelling as his golf. With this win, he’s not just adding a trophy — he’s reinforcing his status and showing the world his bag setup works at the highest level.