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Source: Fox News
Summary
Aaron Rai won the 2026 PGA Championship with a 65, becoming the first non-American to hoist the Wanamaker Trophy since 2015. He finished nine-under overall, three shots ahead of the rest of the field. Rai’s victory came despite being ranked 44th in the world and having a poor driving distance. He finished fourth in the field in strokes gained on the greens, making his putter his best friend throughout the week.
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The game followed a familiar script, where a player from outside the top 10 in the world won a major championship. Aaron Rai, a 31-year-old Englishman, was that player.
Rai started strong, making a four-foot birdie putt on the first hole, but quickly fell into a slump, making a bogey on the 8th hole after a poor tee shot. However, he bounced back with an eagle on the 9th hole, reaching the par-5 in two and sinking a 40-footer.
Rai’s birdie on the 13th hole, where he converted a tricky bunker shot into a birdie, may be looked back on as the moment that put him ahead of the rest of the field.
As the round wore on, Rai continued to separate himself from the pack, making birdies on the 11th and 16th holes, and finally putting the tournament away with a 68-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole.
This one felt recognizable early, as Rai’s putter came through for him when it mattered most, and his ability to bounce back from mistakes made him the last man standing.
Original Observation: The PGA Championship is always a week where anything can happen, and this year’s tournament was no exception.
Author: Evan Null
