Aaron Rai entered the PGA Championship at 150-to-1 odds before winning his first major

Aaron Rai arrived at the PGA Championship as a 150-to-1 outsider and left Aronimink Golf Club with the Wanamaker Trophy. Golf Channel cited those pre-tournament odds this week as the PGA Tour shifted to the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in Texas. Rai then backed up the price shock with a final-round 65 on May 17 to win the 108th PGA Championship at 9-under-par, three shots clear of Jon Rahm and Alex Smalley, according to PGA Championship and PGA Tour reports. (golfchannel.com) The win gave Rai, 31, his first major title and made him the first English-born player to win the PGA Championship since Jim Barnes in 1919, the PGA Tour said. (espn.com) The tournament purse was $20.5 million, according to the PGA Tour event overview. ### How unlikely was Rai’s win before the week began? Golf Channel’s odds preview for the CJ Cup Byron Nelson said Rai had opened the PGA Championship at 150-to-1 before winning at Aronimink. In betting terms, that put him well outside the group of headline favorites entering the year’s second major. (golfchannel.com) PGA Championship records show Rai finished at 271, or 9 under, after starting the final round in a congested leaderboard with 22 players within four shots of the lead. The official tournament recap said he “went out and took it” on a day when the trophy was available to a wide group of contenders. (pgatour.com) ### What did Rai do on Sunday to finish it? PGA Tour coverage said Rai closed with a 5-under 65, the lowest final-round score among the top finishers, and won by three strokes. The PGA of America said he played the last round knowing the Wanamaker Trophy was there for the taking in a crowded field. (golfchannel.com) The PGA Tour said Rai was three shots behind around the turn before pulling away with a charge that separated him from Rahm and Smalley. Final leaderboard listings from the PGA Championship site showed Justin Thomas, Ludvig Aberg and Matti Schmid tied for fourth at 5 under. (pgachampionship.com) ### Why did this result stand out beyond the odds? Aaron Rai had one prior PGA Tour title before this week, the PGA Tour said, and his major breakthrough came against a field that included Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele. The PGA Tour said Rai became the first non-American winner of the championship since Jason Day in 2015. (pgatour.com) BBC Sport added a personal detail after the win, reporting that Rai said advice from his wife before the final round helped him through what he called “the biggest round of his career.” That account added to the portrait of a player who had not been central to pre-tournament expectations. (pgatour.com) ### Where does the story move next on the PGA Tour schedule? The PGA Tour schedule lists the CJ Cup Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, from May 21-24, immediately after the PGA Championship. Golf.com’s tournament viewing guide said the Byron Nelson carries a $10.3 million purse, with a winner’s share of $1.854 million. (pgatour.com) Friday’s second round is scheduled for May 22, with Golf Channel television coverage from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. ET and early streaming on ESPN+ beginning at 7:45 a.m. ET, according to Golf.com’s schedule page. Scottie Scheffler is the defending champion at TPC Craig Ranch, where the Tour’s next set of tee times and pairings continue the week’s action. (golfchannel.com) (golf.com) (espn.com)