Aaron Rai has become the first Englishman in over a century to win the US PGA Championship and the first British Asian to claim a major golf title.
The 31-year-old from Wolverhampton secured a three-shot win at Aronimink Golf Club near Philadelphia to lift the Wanamaker Trophy.
His victory also makes him only the second golfer of South Asian origin to win a major, after Fiji’s Vijay Singh.
It was the first PGA Championship win by a Brit since Rory McIlroy in 2014 and the first by an Englishman since 1919.
Rai, born in Wolverhampton to parents of Indian heritage, credited his family for his success, saying both worked multiple jobs to support his golfing journey.
Rai said his father took him to practice from a young age and later quit his job to support his golf career, while his mother worked long hours to support the family.
He is known for unusual habits like wearing two gloves and using iron covers and special tees, which he says came from growing up with limited resources, and is praised for his disciplined style.
After becoming the first English PGA Championship winner since 1919, he said he was “extremely proud”.
In tough conditions at Aronimink, he improved across rounds and sealed victory with a final-round 65, winning by three shots.
The title is his ninth professional win and biggest career achievement to date.
