Aaron Rai claims first major, wins PGA Championship at Aronimink

Aaron Rai arrived at the PGA Championship as the world No. 44 with one PGA Tour victory and left Aronimink Golf Club with the Wanamaker Trophy. The 31-year-old Englishman closed with a 5-under 65 on Sunday, May 17, to win the 108th PGA Championship at 9-under 271. PGA Tour and PGA Championship reports said Rai won by three shots after starting a final round that began with 22 players within four strokes of the lead. The victory was Rai’s first major title and his second PGA Tour win. ### How did Rai separate himself on a leaderboard that stayed packed all day? Aronimink Golf Club produced a congested final round, with Alex Smalley beginning Sunday at 6 under and a large group still in range. PGA Tour coverage said the tournament turned into a major-championship scramble before Rai emerged from the group with the lowest major final round of his career. The decisive moment came at the par-3 17th, where Golfweek reported Rai holed a 68-foot birdie putt. That putt gave him the cushion he needed on a day when Jon Rahm and Smalley were still chasing, and Rai finished at 9 under while Rahm and Smalley shared second at 6 under, according to PGA Championship and Golf Channel results. ### What made this win such a breakthrough for him? Rai entered the week ranked No. 44 in the Official World Golf Ranking and had one PGA Tour title, the 2024 Wyndham Championship. Yahoo Sports and Golf Channel both identified the PGA Championship as his first major victory and only his second PGA Tour title. The Official World Golf Ranking site showed the win moved him from No. 44 to No. 15. (pgatour.com) The PGA Championship also carried a historical note. Golfweek said Rai became the first Englishman to win the PGA Championship in the stroke-play era, while the OWGR site said he was the first Englishman to win the event since 1919. (sports.yahoo.com) ### Who was closest to catching him? Jon Rahm and Alex Smalley finished tied for second at 6 under, according to the official PGA Championship and Golf Channel leaderboards. Justin Thomas, Ludvig Aberg and Matti Schmid followed at 5 under, while defending champion Scottie Scheffler finished tied for 14th, according to the Associated Press and event results. (golfweek.usatoday.com) Smalley’s presence near the top had been one of the week’s surprises. PGA Tour live coverage said he began the final round in front, but Rai’s 65 proved enough to overtake him and hold off the rest of the field. (pgachampionship.com) ### What did the result do to Rai’s standing in the game? The Official World Golf Ranking update published after the tournament moved Rai to No. 15 from No. 44. That jump of 29 places gave him a career-high ranking, according to the OWGR site and ranking roundups published on Monday and Tuesday. The win also changed Rai’s resume in a more basic way. (pgatour.com) Before Sunday, his best-known PGA Tour result remained the Wyndham Championship; after Sunday, he had a major title on a course and in a field that included Scheffler, Rahm and Rory McIlroy. PGA Championship and Golf Channel reports both described it as a first major and a career-defining result. (owgr.com) ### What comes next on the schedule? The Official World Golf Ranking calendar lists the CJ Cup Byron Nelson for May 21-24 as the next PGA Tour stop. Golf Channel reported that Scheffler is expected to return there in Texas to defend his title, while Rai will head to the next event as the newly crowned PGA champion and world No. 15. (owgr.com) (pgachampionship.com)