Aaron Rai becomes England’s first PGA champion since 1919 after Aronimink masterclass

England’s Aaron Rai claimed the first major title of his career with a brilliant victory at the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club.

The 31-year-old produced the round of his life on Sunday, carding a stunning final-round 65 to finish on nine-under par and secure a three-shot victory over Jon Rahm and Alex Smalley 

Rai sealed the Wanamaker Trophy in unforgettable fashion when he drained a remarkable 70-foot birdie putt on the par-3 17th to pull clear of the chasing pack before calmly parring the last.

In total, Rai holed 182-feet of putts during Sunday's final round. 

"I definitely wasn't trying to hole that putt," joked Rai after the tournament. 

"It was so long, just tried to put good speed on it and it just tracked extremely well in the last half, but yeah amazing to see that one go in."

Rai had been battling a neck injury in the first few months of this season, and it very much disrupted his performances on the PGA Tour. 

"It had been a bit of a frustrating season," said Rai, who entered the week with just one top-10 finish all season, coming with a solo fifth at last week's Myrtle Beach Classic. 

"To be stood here is definitely outside of my wildest imagination. 

"But I've had some really good consistency the last few weeks, in terms of practice and my body has been feeling great.

"It's phenomenal to be stood here." 

The victory makes Rai the first Englishman to win the PGA Championship since the late Jim Barnes, who lifted the trophy in 1916 and 1919.

Rai’s Sunday 65 also marked the lowest round of his major career, coming in his 46th round in a major, and caps a remarkable rise for a player whose previous best finish at one of golf’s biggest events was tied-19th.

Rai becomes the first English major champion since Matt Fitzpatrick won the 2022 U.S. Open, while it also marks the first time in the modern era that European players have captured the opening two majors of the season.

The win is Rai’s second PGA Tour title following his breakthrough victory at the 2024 Wyndham Championship, while he has also won four times on the DP World Tour.

After tapping in for par at the 18th, Rai acknowledged the crowd before embracing his wife, Gaurika Bishnoi, a Ladies European Tour professional. 

Long-time friend Mark ‘Fooch’ Fulcher, best known as Justin Rose’s caddie, was also waiting greenside to celebrate the emotional victory.

Born in Staffordshire and now based in Jacksonville, Florida, Rai is well known for wearing two gloves — a trademark he adopted during cold winters in England as a child before sticking with the routine throughout his professional career.

Rahm’s joint runner-up finish represented his best result in a major championship for three years as he narrowly missed out on a third major title.

Two-time PGA champion Justin Thomas surged through the field with a superb 65 to share fourth place on five-under alongside Ludvig Åberg and Matti Schmid.

Masters champion Rory McIlroy finished tied seventh on four-under alongside Xander Schauffele and Cameron Smith.

McIlroy was spotted telling a security official to remove a rowdy spectator from the crowd after he played a shot on the 16th.