Aaron Rai captures first major, wins the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink

Aaron Rai arrived at Aronimink with one PGA Tour victory and no major titles. On Sunday, the 31-year-old Englishman left with the Wanamaker Trophy after a closing 5-under 65 gave him the 2026 PGA Championship by three shots. Rai finished at 9-under 271, ahead of Jon Rahm and Alex Smalley at 6-under, according to the PGA Championship and Golf Channel leaderboards. (pgachampionship.com) The win was Rai’s first major title and his second PGA Tour victory after the 2024 Wyndham Championship. (pgachampionship.com) The PGA Tour profile lists Rai, who turned professional in 2012, as world No. 44 entering the week. The PGA Championship carried a record $20.5 million purse, with Rai earning $3.69 million. ### How did Rai take control on a Sunday that began with a crowded leaderboard? The final round began with 22 players within four shots of the lead, the PGA Championship said. Rai was 1-over through eight holes before the turn changed his round — and the tournament. At the par-5 ninth, Rai made an eagle putt from about 40 feet after reaching the green with a 5-wood from roughly 260 yards, according to his account to reporters. “That definitely helped and provided a bit of a boost to the round,” Rai said. (pgachampionship.com) The back nine separated him from the field. (pgatour.com) Rai birdied the 11th and 13th holes to move into the lead, added another birdie at the par-5 16th, and then holed a birdie putt from nearly 70 feet at the par-3 17th. “Definitely wasn’t trying to hole that putt,” Rai said after the round. (pgachampionship.com) ### Who was closest to him at the finish? Jon Rahm and Alex Smalley tied for second at 6-under. Golf Channel’s final leaderboard showed Smalley opening with rounds of 67 and 69 and staying in contention into Sunday, while Rahm closed with a 68. (pgachampionship.com) Justin Thomas, Ludvig Aberg and Matti Schmid tied for fourth at 5-under. Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele and Cameron Smith finished tied for seventh at 4-under, while Scottie Scheffler was part of a tie for 14th at 2-under. ### What does the result add to Rai’s career record? (pgachampionship.com) Rai was making his 13th major start this week, the PGA Championship said. Before Sunday, his lone PGA Tour title had come at the Wyndham Championship in 2024, and his official tour profile listed him with one win this season after Aronimink. (golfchannel.com) The PGA Tour profile identifies Rai as a player from Wolverhampton, England, who turned pro in 2012. His ranking page at the Official World Golf Ranking showed him at No. 15 after the result, a rise from the No. 44 position listed on his PGA Tour profile entering the championship week. That move is an inference from the two official profiles taken at different times. (golfchannel.com) ### How much money was at stake at Aronimink? The PGA Championship purse reached a record $20.5 million this year, according to payout lists published after the finish. Sports Illustrated reported Rai’s winner’s share at $3.69 million, while Rahm and Smalley each received $1.804 million for tying for second. (pgachampionship.com) CBS and Golfweek reported that 82 players who made the cut received payouts from the purse. The increase followed last year’s $19 million purse, Sports Illustrated said. ### What comes next for the new PGA champion? The PGA Championship victory gives Rai the exemptions that come with the title, including future PGA Championships and the next major starts. (pgatour.com) The men’s major schedule now moves to the U.S. Open in June at Shinnecock Hills, where Rai will arrive as the reigning PGA champion. (pgachampionship.com) (cbssports.com) (si.com)