Aaron Rai of England, known as the "two-glove man," captured the season's second major championship.
Rai shot 5-under in the final round of the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club (par 70) in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, on Sunday. He finished at 9-under-par 271, three strokes ahead of co-runners-up Jon Rahm of Spain and Alex Smalley of the United States.
Rai claimed his second career PGA Tour title — and his first major — one year and nine months after winning the Wyndham Championship in August 2024 for his maiden tour victory. He took home the Wanamaker Trophy along with $3.69 million (about 5.5 billion won) in prize money. He is the first English player to win the PGA Championship since Jim Barnes in 1919, ending a 107-year drought.
Born in 1995, Rai grew up in a family of Indian immigrant workers. He is known for hitting shots while wearing black gloves on both hands, a habit he has kept since being given a pair of gloves at age eight. Rai also keeps headcovers on his irons. As a child, his father would clean his clubs after each practice session and store them with covers on, and Rai says he continues the practice today to honor his father's devotion.
Starting the day two strokes back in a tie for second, Rai delivered a strong finish. He was 1-over through the eighth hole with two birdies and three bogeys, but turned the round around with an eagle at the par-5 ninth. He added birdies at the par-4 11th and par-4 13th on the back nine, then sealed the win with consecutive birdies at the 16th and 17th.
Rahm and Smalley finished tied for second at 6-under. Justin Thomas of the United States and Ludvig Aberg of Sweden tied for fourth at 5-under. World No. 2 Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland tied for seventh at 4-under, while world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler of the United States tied for 14th at 2-under. Kim Si-woo finished tied for 35th at 1-over.
