English Golfer Aaron Rai Storms to Maiden Major Victory at 108th PGA Championship
The Wanamaker Trophy was firmly up for grabs at Aronimink Golf Club on Sunday with a crowded leaderboard of 22 contenders sitting within just four shots of the lead. Ultimately it was England’s Aaron Rai who seized the moment, delivering a spectacular final round to claim the 108th PGA Championship.
The turning point at the ninth
The 31-year-old endured a shaky start to his Sunday round. After bogeying the sixth and eighth holes he found himself 1-over for the day. However his fortunes shifted dramatically on the par-5 ninth hole.
From 260 yards out in a slight downwind Rai hit a brilliant 5-wood approach that landed just short of the green. He then sank a massive 45-foot putt for eagle to make the turn at a much-improved 1-under 34.
Back nine brilliance
While his fellow competitors stagnated on the leaderboard Aaron Rai found an entirely new gear on the back nine. A clinical four-foot birdie on the 11th brought him to 6-under before a seven-foot putt on the 13th gave him the outright lead.
He extended his advantage with another birdie on the par-5 16th but saved the true fireworks for the penultimate hole. On the par-3 17th Rai sent the Aronimink crowds wild by sinking an outrageous 70-foot birdie putt to pull three strokes clear of his nearest rivals. He later admitted he was simply trying to put good speed on the ball but was aided by the shadow of the pin which provided a perfect visual line.
Final leaderboard standings
| Player | Final Score | Position |
| Aaron Rai | -9 (274) | 1st |
| Jon Rahm | -6 | T-2nd |
| Alex Smalley | -6 | T-2nd |
| Rory McIlroy | -4 | T-7th |
| Cam Smith | -4 | T-7th |
| Xander Schauffele | -4 | T-7th |
Note: Defending 2025 PGA Champion and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler finished tied for 14th at 2-under.
Historical impact and major rewards
Rai’s triumph is historically significant as it conclusively ends a 10-year streak of American victories at the PGA Championship. The last European to lift the Wanamaker Trophy was Rory McIlroy in 2014 while Australia’s Jason Day was the last non-American winner in 2015.
Furthermore, following McIlroy’s Masters victory in April, 2026 marks the first time since the modern major era began in 1934 that European players have captured the first two majors of the calendar year.
Entering the week ranked 44th in the world with just one PGA Tour win and three DP World Tour titles to his name, Aaron Rai leaves Pennsylvania as a major champion. The Englishman takes home a staggering $3.69 mln prize alongside a lifetime exemption into the PGA Championship. He also secures highly coveted five-year exemptions for the Masters, the US Open, The Open Championship and the Players Championship.
Reflecting on his incredible journey from junior golf to major glory, Rai expressed his deep appreciation for the sport.
