Rai ends 107-year wait for second English winner of US PGA

England’s Aaron Rai has racked up a whole host of firsts after emerging from a bunched pack to win the US PGA Championship at a testing Aronimink. A first major title of his career. The first Englishman to win the Wanamaker Trophy in over a century. The first non-American to triumph in a decade. And […]

England’s Aaron Rai has racked up a whole host of firsts after emerging from a bunched pack to win the US PGA Championship at a testing Aronimink.
A first major title of his career. The first Englishman to win the Wanamaker Trophy in over a century. The first non-American to triumph in a decade. And surely the first major champion who wears two gloves while he is playing – a continuation of how he learned the game as a child.
On a course set-up which has scrambled many minds over the past four days, 31-year-old Rai played with clarity and composure in Sunday’s final round.
After methodically putting himself into the lead, a moment of magic ensured the Wolverhampton-born Rai will go down in golfing folklore.
Expertly draining a 69ft putt on the 17th green – the second longest of the whole week – all but clinched victory.
It helped Rai, who had never finished in the top 10 at a major, card a magnificent five-under-par 65 to finish nine under overall.
That was enough to end three shots clear of Spain’s two-time major champion Jon Rahm and unheralded American Alex Smalley – the overnight leader – who finished joint second.
“It is very surreal,” said Rai, who has struggled to practise at times this year because of a neck injury.
“It has been a frustrating season, so being stood here is outside of my wildest imagination.”