Nobody saw Aaron Rai coming. Now his name is on the Wanamaker Trophy.
The 31-year-old Englishman produced one of the great final round performances in major championship history on Sunday, closing with a 5-under 65 to win the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club by three shots, finishing at 9-under 271.
Jon Rahm and overnight leader Alex Smalley tied for second at 6-under, while Rory McIlroy, Cameron Smith, and Xander Schauffele tied for seventh at 4-under. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler finished tied 14th.
The Turning Point
Aaron Rai was three shots behind and 1-over through eight holes when everything changed. On the par-5 ninth, he struck a 5-wood from 260 yards and drained a 40-foot eagle putt to spark an extraordinary run.
“The putt going in for eagle was definitely a bonus,” Rai said. “It definitely helped and provided a bit of a boost to the round.”
What followed was simply special. Rai one-putted seven straight greens, birdied the 11th, 13th, and 16th to take a two-shot lead at 8-under. Then on the par-3 17th, he holed a stunning 70-foot birdie putt to put the tournament beyond doubt.
“It was so long that it was just trying to put good speed on it,” Rai said. “It just tracked extremely well on the last half. Amazing to see that one go in.”
Smalley, the 54-hole leader, lost his chance with a double bogey on the sixth hole. Rahm battled with a 68 but two front nine bogeys proved costly. Justin Thomas shot a brilliant 65 to briefly threaten before Rai pulled clear.
A Historic Victory
Aaron Rai became the first English-born player to win the PGA Championship since Jim Barnes in 1919. He also ended a 10-tournament winning streak for American players, with Jason Day in 2015 being the last non-American winner before Rai.
With McIlroy’s Masters win in April, 2026 marks the first time in the history of the four current majors that the opening two were both won by Europeans.
Rai came into the week ranked 44th in the world with just one PGA Tour title, the 2024 Wyndham Championship, alongside three DP World Tour wins.
His peers could not have been happier. “You won’t find one person on property who’s not happy for him,” McIlroy said. Rahm added: “What he did today is nothing short of special.”
Rai, who wears two gloves and keeps iron head covers on his clubs as a reminder of his humble beginnings, was emotional after the win.
“Golf teaches you so much humility and discipline and absolute hard work because nothing is ever given in this game,” Rai said.
He takes home $3.69 million and earns lifetime entry into the PGA Championship, along with five-year exemptions into the Masters, US Open, The Open Championship, and the Players Championship.
