Fleetwood and Rai Share Lead at Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

Tommy Fleetwood and fellow Englishman Aaron Rai are tied for the lead at the halfway mark of the 2025 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship after impressive performances at Yas Links on day two.

Fleetwood, who co-led after the first round, began his second round with a flurry of birdies, quickly moving ahead with three birdies in his opening holes. The two-time former winner of the event and reigning FedEx Cup champion finished the day with a 66, making seven birdies and just one bogey on the 15th hole, putting him at 14 under par.

Sharing the lead with Fleetwood is World Number 30 Aaron Rai, who carded a flawless 64. Rai’s round included five birdies and a spectacular albatross on the par-five second hole. From 218 yards out, Rai holed his approach shot with a six-iron, delivering one of golf’s rarest feats and thrilling the crowd.

The duo holds a two-shot advantage over their closest rivals Andy Sullivan, Nicolai Højgaard, and Richard Sterne, with 2019 champion Shane Lowry a further stroke behind.

Fleetwood started the day in a five-way tie but briefly fell behind as early starter Nacho Elvira made a strong front nine. However, Fleetwood quickly regained momentum, birdying each of the first three holes to retake a share of the lead. He then took sole possession after a birdie on the par-five seventh, extending his lead further with a birdie on the 11th.

Lowry matched Fleetwood’s score with a birdie on the 13th but dropped down the leaderboard after a double bogey on the 14th. Meanwhile, Fleetwood stretched his lead to two shots with a birdie at the 14th but slipped back to a shared lead after a bogey on the 15th. He recovered with a birdie on the 16th to maintain his position atop the leaderboard alongside Rai.

With two rounds left, the battle for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship title looks set to be thrilling.