NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pennsylvania (Diya TV) — Aaron Rai delivered the biggest performance of his career at Aronimink Golf Club, winning the 2026 PGA Championship and claiming his first major title with a composed final-round 65.
Rai finished at 9-under 274, three strokes ahead of Jon Rahm and Alex Smalley, who tied for second. The English golfer separated himself from a crowded leaderboard with four birdies on the back nine, capped by a nearly 70-foot birdie putt on the par-3 17th hole that pushed him three shots clear and all but sealed the Wanamaker Trophy.
The victory marked a historic breakthrough. Rai became the first Englishman in 107 years to win the PGA Championship, following Jim Barnes, who won the event in 1916 and 1919. It also ended a decade-long run of American winners at the tournament, with Jason Day in 2015 having been the last non-American champion before Rai.
Rai entered the week ranked 44th in the world and was not considered one of the main favorites. Reuters reported that he began the tournament as a 300-1 outsider and started the final round as one of 43 players within five shots of the lead. But as major winners and top-ranked players battled around him, Rai stayed steady and produced one of the strongest closing stretches of the championship.
His defining moment came at No. 17, where his long birdie putt sent the crowd into celebration. Rai later said he was mainly focused on speed rather than trying to hole the putt, but once it found the line, it became the shot that turned a tight major finish into a clear victory.
For Rai, the win was the result of a long and patient climb. Before this week, he had three DP World Tour victories and one PGA Tour win, the 2024 Wyndham Championship. His major championship record had shown progress, but he had not previously broken through on golf’s biggest stage. That changed at Aronimink, where his calm approach and precise ball-striking held up under major pressure.
Rai’s story also resonated beyond the leaderboard. Raised in Wolverhampton, England, as the son of migrants from India and Kenya, he spoke after the win about the importance of his family, upbringing and identity. He said he was proud to represent England, while also expressing pride in his Indian and Kenyan heritage.
He also credited his wife, Indian professional golfer Gaurika Bishnoi, for helping him stay focused during the week. According to The Guardian, Rai said Bishnoi’s advice was “invaluable,” especially after a Saturday conversation that helped him reset before the final round.
Rai has long been known for his distinctive style on the course, including wearing two gloves and using iron covers. He has explained those habits as reminders of his early years in golf, when his father carefully protected his clubs and taught him to value hard work, discipline and respect for the game.
The win came with major rewards. Rai earned $3.69 million, a lifetime exemption into the PGA Championship, and five-year exemptions into the Masters, U.S. Open, Open Championship and The Players Championship.
