Historical victory for the 31-year old

Englishman Aaron Rai has won his first Major after shooting a stunning 5-under par 65 on the final day of the 108th PGA Championship held at Aronimink GC in Pennsylvania, USA (14-17 May).  With rounds of 70, 69, 67 and 65, Rai carded a super total of 9-under par 271 to win the PGA by three shots.  Spain’s Jon Rahm and 54-hole leader Alex Smalley (USA) were in a tie for second place.

 

Aaron Rai, the 31-year old from Wolverhampton, went out in 1-under par which included a wondrous birdie at the opening hole.  He followed this with a birdie at the 3rd and then three bogeys.  His game then really came alive at the 589 yard, par-5 9th hole where he holed a collosal putt of nearly 40 feet for an eagle.

 

On the back nine, Rai had a dream finish after a birdie at the 11th.  The leader Matti Schmid from Germany dropped a shot there leaving Aaron Rai as the outright leader on 6-under.  The Englishman’s birdie trail then continued.  The 13th, 16th and then, totally unexpected, he holed an enormous putt of nearly 70-feet on the par-3 17th to pull three-shots ahead.  A par down the last saw him finish the PGA Championship at 9-under par, 271 and snatch the much-covetted Wanamaker Trophy.

 

Final day leaders go head to head

 

American Alex Smalley and German Matti Schmid had the honour of teeing-off last on Sunday.  Victory from either one of these players would have also seen a new name on the PGA trophy.  Smalley was 6-under and Schmid 4-under.

 

 

Major winner from Spain, Jon Rahm began with back-to-back birdies to snatch a share of the lead with Alex Smalley on 6-under.

 

Alex Smalley holed a long putt at the third to stay co-leader.  Schmid then birdied the sixth to take the outright lead leaving Smalley to make double-bogey and slip down to 4-under.

 

Englishman Aaron Rai then came in the picture when he made an eagle at the 9th hole to share second place on 5-under.  This was due to be a very exciting final day of the PGA with many of the key players breaking the par of 70.

 

Indeed, Justin Thomas was rewarded with a share of fourth place with his 65.  Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg and Matti Schmid (Germany) were also tied with Thomas with final rounds of 69.

 

 

 

Australia’s Cameron Smith together with Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele shared seventh spot on 4-under.

 

The 2022 US Open winner from England, Matt Fitzpatrick, shot a 5-under par 65 with five birdies and not a single bogey on his card which earned him a share of 14th on 2-under par with the defending champion, Scottie Scheffler, and Max Greyserman and Ben Griffin.

 

And if you are wondering what happened to the leader on day one, Aldrich Potgieter, well he finished in a tie for 35th on 1-over par.

 

Historical victory for Rai

 

It is amazing to realise that the last time an Englishman won the PGA Championship was back in the very beginning of this historic event.  It was in 1916 and 1919 when Jim Barnes won the first two editions when it was a matchplay event.  Ranked as 44th player in the world, Aaron Rai is overwhelmed with his success at the Aronimink Golf Course.  For the Englishman to win his first Major and in such style with a three-shot victory is absolutely tremendous.

 

Aaron Rai, the 2026 PGA Champion, we are truly over the moon with your victory!

 

 

Wendy Hoad

Editor

 

MAIN PHOTOGRAPH:  A delighted Englishman Aaron Rai is crowned the 2026 PGA Champion.  MINIS (l-r):  Alex Smalley and Matti Schmid.  Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Hideki Matsuyama and Justin Thomas.