British Indian Aaron Rai becomes first non-American to win US PGA Championship

• Aaron Rai wins his first major title
• First English winner in over 100 years for this trophy
• Rai finishes three shots clear of second place
• A 69-foot putt on 17th helps seal victory
• Top players like Rahm and McIlroy fall short

England’s Aaron Rai produced a calm and focused final round to win the US PGA Championship at Aronimink. It is the first major title of his career.

Rai became the first Englishman in over 100 years to win the Wanamaker Trophy. He is also the first non-American winner in a decade. He is known for wearing two gloves while playing, a habit he started as a child.

The 31-year-old from Wolverhampton played with control in difficult course conditions. The course tested all players over four days, but Rai stayed steady and avoided major mistakes.

He finished the final round with a five-under-par 65. His total score of nine under gave him a three-shot win over Spain’s Jon Rahm and American Alex Smalley, who tied for second place.

He said, "It is very surreal," and added, "It has been a frustrating season, so being stood here is outside of my wildest imagination."

Rai had never finished inside the top 10 at a major before this win. He also dealt with a neck injury during the season, which limited his practice time.

Aaron Rai of England hits a tee shot on the second hole during the third round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club on May 16, 2026 in Newtown, Pennsylvania. Getty Images

A key moment came on the 17th hole. Rai sank a 69-foot putt, the second longest of the week. That shot gave him a strong lead and nearly secured the title.

He said, "I definitely wasn't trying to hole that putt," and added, "The shadow of the pin gave a really nice line for the last 10 feet so that helped with the visual."

He also said, "It just tracked really well - it was amazing to see it go in."

After that putt, Rai showed a small fist pump but stayed calm overall. His steady approach helped him stay ahead of the field.

Behind him, Jon Rahm, a two-time major winner, started strong but could not maintain momentum. He finished three shots behind Rai.

Rory McIlroy also had a strong start but struggled in the final round. He finished five shots back. He said, "I'm proud that I gave myself a chance," but added that missed chances on key holes cost him the win.

Justin Thomas, Ludvig Aberg, and other top players also finished behind Rai after failing to close the gap in the final round.

The course conditions remained difficult. Thick rough and fast greens made scoring hard for most players. However, Rai kept his ball in the fairway and avoided big errors.

His strategy focused on accuracy rather than power. That approach worked throughout the tournament.

Rai’s win places him among a small group of English major champions in modern golf history. It also marks a strong moment for UK golf, with multiple major wins by British players this year.

World number one Scottie Scheffler also struggled during the tournament and finished well behind after putting issues affected his performance throughout the week.

Rai’s victory stands out as a breakthrough moment in his career, built on patience, consistency, and calm execution under pressure.