HE's known as the player who wears gloves on both hands and has covers on his irons.
Who does that?
Perhaps only Aaron Rai. But starting now, the Englishman will be known more as a major winner after he beat the field with a back-nine masterclass to win the PGA Championship by three strokes.
He shot an astonishing 5-under-par 65 in a pressure-packed final round to finish at 9 under par and won as one of the longest shots to claim a major.
Rai wins runnning away
Starting the round two shots off the lead, the 31-year-old Rai fell a stroke farther back when he bogeyed three holes and was 1-over after eight holes.
But from there, he produced some of the tournament’s best shots starting with an eagle on the ninth hole. Over the next 10 holes, Rai made four more birdies, none more compelling and dramatic than on the 17th where he sank a 68-footer that will be long remembered.
That putt sealed the deal.
Left in his wake were a pedigreed class that included major champion Jon Ram, who settled for a tie for second with overnight leader Alex Smalley, at minus 6, followed by Ludvig Åberg, Justin Thomas and Matti Schmid at -5. Rahm shot 68 on Sunday and Smalley shot 70.
Rory McIlroy had problems with his driver and putter and never got closer than one shot of the lead and tied for seventh at -4 after a 69. Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1, finished the tournament at -2, tied for 14th.
"To be here is outside my wildest imagination," Rai said.
His pursuers were all praise for the humble guy from England who becomes the second man, after Vijay Singh, to win the PGA Championship coming from an Indian heritage.
"You won't find one person on property who's not happy for him," McIlroy said.
"Super pumped for him and his team," Schauffele said. "All-world gentleman, no doubt."
The reason he wears two gloves was to protect his hands from the cold when practicing, which he did a lot, when he was young.
And those iron covers? It’s a reminder of his roots. According to Rai, his father bought him a nice golf set when he was starting and his dad would clean them after finishing play. Since then, he left the covers on "to remember where I came from and to respect what I have."
Rai will take home $3.69 million for winning the event. No doubt, it will be the biggest of his career in a long while, unless he wins another major.
He has come a long way from the days when he found himself in the loneliest places for a professional golfer. Rai, who turned pro at 17, began at the developmental EuroPro Tour. He then moved on to the Challenge Tour before making it to the DP World Tour and then, finally, the PGA Tour where his only win was the Wyndham Championship in 2024.
But with the PGA Championship win, his golf future is secured. With it, he gains a lifetime exemption on the event. The other perks include a five-year exemption at the Masters, the Open and the US Open, and at The Players. He also gained a five-year exemption on the PGA Tour and seven years on the DP World Tour.
Also, he will have enough to buy plenty of golf gloves.
Rico Hoey ties for 60th at PGA Championship
Rico Hoey did not finish with a flourish. The country’s only bet in the PGA Championship, shot a final round 3-over-par 73 and tied for 60th place.
His 284 total at 4 over par was 13 strokes behind winner Aaron Rai. Hoey had four birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey on the par 4 10th hole.
After his 290-yard drive on the 10th got gobbled in the tall grass, Hoey was able to advance it to just 70 yards. From there, he managed to hit the green, but the ball landed 36 feet from the hole. And then, he three-putted.
It was the worst round of the tournament for the 31-year-old Hoey who shot 70-70-71 in the first three rounds.
Among those tied with him in 60th spot were Sami Valimaki, Sahith Theegala, Rickie Fowler, and Brian Harman
Each received $29,218.
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