Aaron Rai has won the PGA Championship, claiming his first major title with a stunning final-round performance at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. The 31-year-old Englishman finished at nine-under par 271 overall, carding a final-round 65 that included six birdies over his last ten holes to secure a three-stroke victory over Spain's Jon Rahm and American Alex Smalley.
Rai, known for his distinctive habit of wearing two golf gloves, entered the final round without the lead but seized control of the tournament in its closing stages. His back-nine surge — featuring four birdies on the inward nine alone — proved enough to hold off a field that included world number one Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, the Northern Irishman who won the Masters in April. Rai took home the iconic Wanamaker Trophy along with nearly $3.7 million in prize money.
The victory carries significant historical weight. Rai is the first English golfer to win the PGA Championship since Jim Barnes, who claimed the inaugural editions of the tournament in 1916 and 1919. "To be standing here is something I couldn't have believed even in my wildest dreams," Rai said after his win. "There have been so many incredible English golfers over the past hundred years. To be the first Englishman to do this in such a long time is something to be extremely proud of."
Rahm's runner-up finish was a notable storyline of the week. The Spanish former world number one and 2021 US Open champion joined LIV Golf, the Saudi-backed breakaway circuit, in late 2023, making him ineligible for most PGA Tour events. His second-place result at Aronimink represents his best finish in a major championship since that move, suggesting he remains a serious contender at golf's biggest events.
Among other contenders, South Korea's Kim Si-woo, who entered the week as the top-ranked Korean player at world number 22, tied for 35th place at one-over 281 after a promising start through two rounds faded in the weekend play. For Rai, however, the week represented a breakthrough that cements his place in the sport's history books.