Aaron Rai captured his first major title at the PGA Championship on Sunday at Aronimink Golf Club near Philadelphia. The Englishman pulled away from a star-studded field that included Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler.
Rai entered the final round tied with several contenders but took control after making the turn. He overcame an early bogey with an eagle at the ninth hole and a birdie at the 11th before executing a precise bunker shot at the par-4 13th to set up another birdie. The victory followed a challenging week at the Myrtle Beach Classic, where Rai led after 54 holes but finished third. He credited that Sunday experience in the final group with preparing him for the pressure at Aronimink. “That experience at Myrtle Beach was absolutely invaluable for the PGA,” Rai said. His father Amrik, a former amateur tennis player who supported his son’s golf career, arrived days later to help Rai process the achievement.
