NEWTON SQUARE (US), May 18: Indian-origin British golfer Aaron Rai, who came into the week as world No. 44, lit up the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club with a lot of drama, high-class shot-making that saw him take back the huge Wanamaker Trophy for his first Major Championship here.
He will begin the new week at a career-high 15th.
Rai, 31, whose best in a Major before this week, was Tied-19th three times, produced the round of his life with the world golf welcoming the arrival of a new major champion.
It was his first major championship in his 13th starts, and he became only the second English player to win the PGA Championship, the first since 1919.
The only English player to win the PGA before him was Jim Barnes in 1916 and 1919, when it was played as a match play format. Rai’s win also ended a 10-year-streak of wins by Americans at the PGA Championship.
Behind Rai’s 9-under total were Jon Rahm (68) and Alex Smalley (70) in tied second at 6-under.
Justin Thomas (65), Matti Schmid (69) and Ludvig Aberg (69) were tied for fourth at 5-under, while Cameron Smith (68), Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele (69) were tied seventh at 4-under.
Kurt Kitayama, one of the early starters, shot the day’s best at 63 and was T-11th alongside Justin Rose (69), Chris Gotterup (69) and Patrick Reed (70) at 3-under total.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (69) struggled with his putting and was T-14 alongside Matt Fitzpatrick (65) at 2-under.
When play began on the final day, Rai was among the crowded chasing pack, behind overnight leader Alex Smalley, who held a two-shot advantage at a championship that had been remarkably tight through three rounds, with more than 20 players within striking distance.
The 20-odd includes Major winners, including Rory McIlroy, Rahm, Xander Schauffele and Ludvig Aberg in contention and World No. 1 Scheffler, a lit further back.
Rai, whose parents have Indian origins, and whose wife Gaurika, is a professional golfer from India, combined his composed personality with meticulous preparations that include gloves on both hands and covers for irons.
Overcoming bogeys on the sixth and the eighth, Rai fell three back but rallied from the ninth, where he landed an eagle and then simply took off.
Rai had four birdies and no bogeys on his back nine and his putt from 68 feet on the 17th, one of the longest of the week, was the highlight of the final day.
He closed with a brilliant five-under-par 65, his best card in a Major, to finish at nine under and pull away from the field over the closing stretch. He finished three clear of the second placed Rahm and overnight leader Smalley.
His triumph carried enormous symbolic importance for Indian and South Asian golf fans, many of whom have long searched for representation in a sport still dominated by traditional western powers.
Rai has built his career steadily through the European circuit before eventually earning PGA Tour success. He won the 2024 Wyndham Championship and is now a Major winner, which gives him a life exemption into the PGA and five-year exemptions into the other three Major and secures his status on the PGA Tour for five years. (PTI)
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