Aaron Rai, Son of Poor Indian Immigrants, Wins PGA Championship... "Makes History"

Victory by 3 Shots in Second Major Signals Upset

First Englishman to Win This Tournament in Over a Century

Rahm Finishes 2nd, Thomas 3rd, McIlroy 7th

The "Magician of Black Gloves" worked his magic.

Aaron Rai of England has claimed the top spot at a major tournament. On May 17 (local time), at the Aronimink Golf Club (par 70, 7,394 yards) in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, USA, he shot a 5-under-par 65 in the fourth round of the 2026 season’s second major golf tournament, the PGA Championship (total prize money: $20.5 million), recording one eagle, seven birdies, and three bogeys. With a final total of 9-under-par 271, Rai secured victory by a margin of three strokes.

This marks Rai’s second career win and his first in one year and nine months since he captured his maiden PGA Tour victory at the Wyndham Championship in August 2024. He received a winner’s purse of $3.69 million (approximately 5.5 billion won). Rai is the first English player to win the PGA Championship in over 100 years, since Jim Barnes in 1919.

Aaron Rai raises his hand to greet the applause of the gallery after finishing the major tournament PGA Championship with a 3-stroke lead. Newtown Square=Photo by AP

Rai is famous for wearing black gloves on both hands. He grew up in the home of an Indian immigrant laborer, and his family circumstances made it difficult for him to learn golf. He played in his first golf tournament at age eight. Despite tough times, his father bought him expensive golf clubs, and Rai plays with iron covers as a gesture for his father. After achieving two wins on the DP World Tour, he moved to the PGA Tour in 2022.

On this day, Rai struggled early, losing a stroke over the first eight holes. However, he made a 12-meter eagle putt on the par-5 9th hole, then captured birdies on the 11th and 13th holes to join the battle for the lead. Consecutive birdies on the 16th and 17th holes widened his lead over the chasers to three strokes, sealing his status as a major champion. His performance was nearly flawless, with a fairway hit rate of 67.27%, a green-in-regulation rate of 73.24%, and an average of 1.65 putts per hole.

Yon Rahm, the marquee player of LIV Golf from Spain, carded a 2-under round to finish second (6-under-par, 274 strokes). Justin Thomas of the United States finished tied for third (5-under-par, 275 strokes), and Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland tied for seventh (4-under-par, 276 strokes). Defending champion and world no. 1 Scottie Scheffler of the United States finished tied for 14th (2-under-par, 278 strokes). Among Korean players, Kim Siwoo posted the best result, tying for 35th (1-over-par, 281 strokes). Sungjae Im and Yang Yong-eun missed the cut.

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