Aaron Rai Was Unaware of Historic PGA Championship Achievement
Aaron Rai delivered a masterclass at the 2026 PGA Championship while many struggled to compete. He steadily took the lead at Aronimink Golf Club and went on to lift the Wanamaker Trophy. However, the Englishman later revealed he had no idea how historic his win actually was.
Rai finished the final round at 5-under par. The 31-year-old recorded 70 and 69 in his first two rounds. He then produced a strong 3-under-par third round on Saturday, which eventually helped him secure the major on Sunday. But along with the victory, Rai also made history at the PGA Championship.
Following his win, Rai became the first Englishman in more than a century to win the PGA Championship. The last to do so was Jim Barnes, who won the inaugural event in 1916 and then successfully defended it in 1919. Since then, no Englishman had won the PGA Championship in 107 years.
"I wasn't actually aware of it until yesterday", Rai said of his historic achievement in the press conference. "I think in this room yesterday it was mentioned, which was the first of my knowledge." But the world No. 20 finally acknowledged how significant the feat actually was. "Extremely, extremely proud", he said.
Rai also acknowledged other greats of the game from his home country who have competed but failed to win the major. "To win this event and then to be the person that's the first one to have won it in a long time from England is an amazing thing and something to be extremely proud of." While it was his first major win, Rai does know the taste of victory.
The 2026 PGA Championship marked his ninth professional win. Rai's maiden European Tour victory came at the 2018 Hong Kong Open. In 2024, the Englishman made his mark on the PGA Tour after winning the Wyndham Championship. He last won the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship last year before lifting the Wanamaker Trophy.
While he has endured struggles and setbacks throughout his career, Rai's journey is finally beginning to bear fruit. The road for the 31-year-old Englishman has only just started as he continues to add more wins to his resume.
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This story was originally published May 18, 2026 at 6:59 AM.