Aaron Rai, after a steady start to the PGA Championship, ignited his game over the final ten holes, delivering a performance that secured him a significant victory amidst one of the most tightly contested major championship leaderboards in recent history.
Rai’s final ten holes saw him shoot an impressive 6-under par, highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 ninth hole and four birdies. A particularly memorable moment was his incredible 70-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole.
This remarkable putt served as the exclamation point on Rai’s first major championship win. It propelled him to a three-shot victory over two-time major champion Jon Rahm and Alex Smalley. He finished four shots ahead of two-time PGA Champion Justin Thomas, and five shots better than Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, and Cameron Smith, who tied for seventh.
The tournament set a PGA Championship record, with 22 players within four shots of the lead heading into the final round.
“Obviously, I was aware of how many players were relatively close, but I believe regardless of how bunched the field was, it still demanded a truly excellent and strong round of golf,” stated Rai. His final round of 5-under-par 65 at Aronimink Golf Club, located near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, brought his total score to 9-under 271.
“The course really demanded it this week, and it was very punishing. I think the focus was very much on the course, on the game, on continuing to run through some good processes and to just kind of see where that put me during the round.”
Rai’s Stellar Finish in the Final Ten Holes
Justin Thomas had held the clubhouse lead for nearly four hours after carding a 65, as the course presented significant challenges under a hot sun.
What ensued was a display of mastery from golf’s newest major champion.
After a powerful 5-wood second shot from 260 yards that landed 40 feet from the pin on the 589-yard ninth hole, Rai expertly sank the lengthy putt for an eagle.
“It landed just short of the green, and came up very, very well,” Rai recalled, adding about the putt, “I was just trying to focus on speed. Hit a great putt, great speed, and we were lucky it went in. That definitely helped to get things moving in a better direction.”
Rai went on to birdie four of his last eight holes, solidifying his lead for good on the 299-yard par-4 13th. After driving into a greenside bunker, he played a 40-yard shot to within seven feet of the pin and converted the birdie putt.
At 31 years old, Rai became the first English-born player in over a century to win the Wanamaker Trophy, an achievement last secured by Jim Barnes in 1916 and 1919.
“I’m extremely, extremely proud,” Rai expressed. “There have been so many incredible and historic English players over those hundred years who have achieved amazing things and had phenomenal careers, but to win this event and then to be the first person to have won it in a long time from England is an amazing thing and something to be extremely proud of.”
Strong Performances from Rahm and Smalley
Jon Rahm achieved his best major finish since joining LIV Golf at the close of 2023. His momentum was slightly hampered by two bogeys on the front nine, and he managed only one birdie on the back nine, finishing with a 68.
Alex Smalley, who started the final day with a two-shot lead, faltered with a double bogey on the sixth hole. He demonstrated resilience with an eagle on the 16th and a birdie on the 18th, concluding the day at even par. This runner-up finish secures his participation in the next four majors, including the Masters.
Rory McIlroy, who closed with a 69, played the par-5s at even par for the week and made a bogey on the reachable par-4 13th.
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler missed a 4-foot birdie putt on the third hole and twice missed 3-foot par putts on the back nine during his closing round of 69, tying for 14th. This marks his first finish outside the top 10 in a major since the 2024 U.S. Open.
Scheffler is set to defend his title this week at The CJ CUP Byron Nelson, held near Dallas, Texas. He won that event last year wire-to-wire by eight shots.
English Translation:
Aaron Rai, after a steady start to the PGA Championship, ignited his game over the final ten holes, delivering a performance that secured him a significant victory amidst one of the most tightly contested major championship leaderboards in recent history.
Rai’s final ten holes saw him shoot an impressive 6-under par, highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 ninth hole and four birdies. A particularly memorable moment was his incredible 70-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole.
This remarkable putt served as the exclamation point on Rai’s first major championship win. It propelled him to a three-shot victory over two-time major champion Jon Rahm and Alex Smalley. He finished four shots ahead of two-time PGA Champion Justin Thomas, and five shots better than Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, and Cameron Smith, who tied for seventh.
The tournament set a PGA Championship record, with 22 players within four shots of the lead heading into the final round.
“Obviously, I was aware of how many players were relatively close, but I believe regardless of how bunched the field was, it still demanded a truly excellent and strong round of golf,” stated Rai. His final round of 5-under-par 65 at Aronimink Golf Club, located near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, brought his total score to 9-under 271.
“The course really demanded it this week, and it was very punishing. I think the focus was very much on the course, on the game, on continuing to run through some good processes and to just kind of see where that put me during the round.”
Rai’s Stellar Finish in the Final Ten Holes
Justin Thomas had held the clubhouse lead for nearly four hours after carding a 65, as the course presented significant challenges under a hot sun.
What ensued was a display of mastery from golf’s newest major champion.
After a powerful 5-wood second shot from 260 yards that landed 40 feet from the pin on the 589-yard ninth hole, Rai expertly sank the lengthy putt for an eagle.
“It landed just short of the green, and came up very, very well,” Rai recalled, adding about the putt, “I was just trying to focus on speed. Hit a great putt, great speed, and we were lucky it went in. That definitely helped to get things moving in a better direction.”
Rai went on to birdie four of his last eight holes, solidifying his lead for good on the 299-yard par-4 13th. After driving into a greenside bunker, he played a 40-yard shot to within seven feet of the pin and converted the birdie putt.
At 31 years old, Rai became the first English-born player in over a century to win the Wanamaker Trophy, an achievement last secured by Jim Barnes in 1916 and 1919.
“I’m extremely, extremely proud,” Rai expressed. “There have been so many incredible and historic English players over those hundred years who have achieved amazing things and had phenomenal careers, but to win this event and then to be the first person to have won it in a long time from England is an amazing thing and something to be extremely proud of.”
Strong Performances from Rahm and Smalley
Jon Rahm achieved his best major finish since joining LIV Golf at the close of 2023. His momentum was slightly hampered by two bogeys on the front nine, and he managed only one birdie on the back nine, finishing with a 68.
Alex Smalley, who started the final day with a two-shot lead, faltered with a double bogey on the sixth hole. He demonstrated resilience with an eagle on the 16th and a birdie on the 18th, concluding the day at even par. This runner-up finish secures his participation in the next four majors, including the Masters.
Rory McIlroy, who closed with a 69, played the par-5s at even par for the week and made a bogey on the reachable par-4 13th.
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler missed a 4-foot birdie putt on the third hole and twice missed 3-foot par putts on the back nine during his closing round of 69, tying for 14th. This marks his first finish outside the top 10 in a major since the 2024 U.S. Open.
Scheffler is set to defend his title this week at The CJ CUP Byron Nelson, held near Dallas, Texas. He won that event last year wire-to-wire by eight shots.