![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/golf\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/poster-fallback.png\"\/)
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It was pointed out in a tongue-in-cheek fashion on the broadcast that Rai had performed well in a major already this year by winning the Par 3 content at The Masters, and with such a record, it was no surprise that some bookmakers ranked him a 150-to-1 outsider to life the Wanamaker Trophy.<\/p>\n
In the performance of a lifetime, Rai upstaged some of the sport\u2019s biggest names, including Jon Rahm, Ludvig Aberg and Rory McIlroy – who told a spectator to \u201cshut the f*** up\u201d in a heated moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is very surreal. It has been a bit of a frustrating season to to be stood here is definitely outside of my wildest imagination,\u201d Rai said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it is really good consistency over the last few weeks with practice. My body feels great and I have really enjoyed the course this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is phenomenal to be stood here.\u201d<\/p>\n
Aaron Rai of England celebrates with The Wanamaker Trophy after winning the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Rai, who last week played the Myrtle Beach Classic because he was not in the field for signature event the Truist Championship, played his final ten holes of the tournament in six-under par.<\/p>\n
He eagled the par 5 ninth and then reeled off four back nine birdies, highlighted by a statement piece of dropping a 70-foot putt at the par 3 17th to effectively clinch victory.<\/p>\n
\u201cI definitely wasn\u2019t trying to hole that putt!<\/p>\n
\u201cThe shadow of the pin gave a really nice line for probably 10 feet so that gave me a visual.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it was so long that I was just trying to get good speed on it and it just tracked extremely well in the last half.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was amazing to see it go in.\u201d<\/p>\n
LEADERBOARD: Scores from the PGA Championship<\/a><\/p>\n ‘Shut the f*** up!’ – Rory RAGES at fan | 00:36<\/p>\n Rai signed off on a five-under par 65 in the end to reach nine-under par for the tournament – three shots clear of Rahm and overnight leader Alex Smalley.<\/p>\n It was his best ever round in a major by two shots and it ensured he became the first Englishman in 107 years to win the PGA Championship.<\/p>\n It is also means he is the first professional from the Old Dart to win the event since he changed from match play to stroke play.<\/p>\n Victory also greatly enhances Rai\u2019s reputation as many golf fans have known him for being a professional they like to poke fun at.<\/p>\n Rai commits what many believe to be cardinal sins by donning two gloves and using iron covers, but both are a call back to his humble beginnings in Wolverhampton in the English midlands.<\/p>\n \u201cGolf is am amazing game. It teaches you so many things, so much humility, discipline and hard work. Nothing is given in this game,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt teaches so many amazing life skills and pretty much everyone on tour is an incredible person.<\/p>\n \u201cGolf should be proud of the ambassadors that represent the PGA Tour and PGA Tour of America.\u201d<\/p>\n Aaron Rai of England acknowledges the crowd on the 17th green during the final round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club.Source: AFP<\/p>\n As a youngster, Rai opted for the double glove to keep his hands warms on bitterly cold English days where he braved the elements to still hit the course.<\/p>\n While the iron covers are a throwback to when he used them as a promising youngster to protect the set of clubs his father had purchased him.<\/p>\n The Rai family were working class and could not afford to splash cash on golf equipment too frequently.<\/p>\n \u201cI haven\u2019t spent a lot of time with him. But I have heard consistently there\u2019s very few people that are nicer and kinder human beings than Aaron Rai,\u201d runner-up Rahm said of the champion. <\/p>\n \u201cAnybody that wears or uses head covers in his irons because he coveted his irons when he was a kid so much that he wanted to respect the equipment so much, and to still do<\/p>\n it? Yeah, exactly, he\u2019s still doing it shows a lot about a person.<\/p>\n \u201cI have heard absolutely nothing but good or great things about Aaron Rai. He\u2019s been playing great golf. He\u2019s a fantastic golfer. He\u2019s been able to perform really well.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat he did today is nothing short of special.\u201d<\/p>\n Rai\u2019s rise was not meteoric either.<\/p>\n He started his professional career on the third level European Tour before winning three times on the Challenge Tour in 2017 to graduate to the DP World Tour.<\/p>\n He later headed to America and in 2022 earned his PGA Tour card via the Korn Ferry Tour finals.<\/p>\n Rai\u2019s previous PGA Tour triumph came at the 2024 Wyndham Championship and after earning more than US$12 million in prize money on the primary US Tour, he has now pocketed a record US$3.69m (A$5.16m) for winning the PGA Championship.<\/p>\n Rahm, meanwhile, was disappointed to not claim a third major title, but was pleased to register his best since joining LIV Golf in 2023.<\/p>\n \u201cI played really good golf. That\u2019s the only way to look at it,\u201d the Spaniard said.<\/p>\n \u201cJust wish I\u2019d have done better with the speed of the greens. Just couldn\u2019t seem to get it to the hole, and that\u2019s the reason why I didn\u2019t hole any more putts.<\/p>\n \u201cEven though, even so, what Aaron did today, catching him could have been very difficult. I don\u2019t know if could happen, but I would have liked a better chance playing the<\/p>\n last two holes. I feel like I was still close on that play 16 until he made that long putt.<\/p>\n \u201cAs far as I\u2019m concerned, to be in the mix again and hit it as good as I did and perform as well as I did this weekend, it\u2019s been a great week. Four rounds and a par, even par, can\u2019t really ask too much more of myself. Just maybe obviously hole in a few more putts, which is not an easy task over here on these greens.\u201d<\/p>\n Jon Rahm of Spain watches his putt on the 18th green during the final round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club.Source: AFP<\/p>\n Earlier in the day, Australia\u2019s Cameron Smith appeared as if he had fell agonisingly short of a second major title, finishing one shot shy of Justin Thomas, who held the clubhouse lead for most of the day.<\/p>\n A two-under par round of 68 was not enough to join Thomas at five-under par with Smith feeling the pinch of several missed opportunities on the back nine as he ended the week tied for seventh alongside McIlroy and Xander Schauffele.<\/p>\n Smith ignited with birdies at the second, fourth and ninth to reach the turn in 32.<\/p>\n The 32-year-old, who missed the cut in the previous six majors, stuck a stellar approach at the par 4 second to a little more than six feet from the pin and then kept his momentum going by holing a near 11-footer at the fourth.<\/p>\n The 2022 Open champion then comfortably two-putted for birdie at the par 5 ninth to close out a front nine where he charged into a tie for second.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s had no form whatsoever on LIV; his game has really deteriorated over the last two years,\u201d former European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley said on Sky Sports\u2019 commentary.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s changed coaches to Claude Harmon III. With that great putting prowess he\u2019s got, all of a sudden he\u2019s a factor in this.\u201d<\/p>\n Things became shaky on the way back to the clubhouse, however, as Smith\u2019s troublesome driver misbehaved once again.<\/p>\n Staggeringly, his charge came despite hitting just three of 14 fairways for the round with his scrambling coming to his rescue consistently. <\/p>\n The Queenslander made eight pars on the back nine with multiple birdie opportunities burning the edge of the cup.<\/p>\n A slip-up on the 17th green proved costly in the end as Smith three-putted from long range to drop his only shot for the day – it was his first three putt of the week.<\/p>\n Post-round, Smith was upbeat despite coming up short.<\/p>\n \u201cIt feels great to play nice. You don\u2019t work hard to play crap, and it\u2019s frustrating, and the last couple of years have been frustrating,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n \u201cI feel like I\u2019ve been putting in the work and not really getting anything out of it. I made a swing coach switch a couple weeks ago now to Claude, and we\u2019ve just managed to clean up a few things that were perhaps a little bit off, and I feel like I\u2019ve got a lot more confidence in my swing.<\/p>\n \u201cEven out there today, under the pressure I felt like I was able to trust it already. So lots of positive signs.\u201d<\/p>\n Smith also reflected his missed birdie putt on 18, which was to tie Thomas but hung out to the right of the cup.<\/p>\n \u201cI wanted to hole that putt. I feel like there was a lot of good putts I hit on the back nine,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe one on the 18th was probably the worst putt I hit all day, which was frustrating.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I had lots of good looks. I\u2019m proud of how I hung in there today, and I\u2019m proud of how I showed up this week, with a new thought and a new swing.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, I\u2019m looking forward to the next few months.\u201d<\/p>\n Smith also did not need any reminder of his struggles across the last two years, but relished being in contention once again.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. I mean, thanks for bringing that up. I haven\u2019t been there in a little while. You\u2019re right,\u201d he replied when asked about feeling Sunday pressure again.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was good. I love that stuff. That\u2019s why we compete. We compete to win, and it was nice to get the heart rate up and, you know, feel your hands and your legs get a little bit<\/p>\n jelly. It was cool.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I\u2019m happy with how I played with all that going on as well. So like I said, lots of positive stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE<\/p>\n R3 WRAP: Aussie duo in the hunt after mighty fightback; unlikely leader ignites in PGA Champs carnage<\/a><\/p>\n