Who is Aaron Rai? Indian-born golfer gives Britain first PGA title in more than 100 years

English golfer Aaron Rai produced the best moment of his career on Sunday to win the PGA Championship with a three-shot victory over Jon Rahm and Alex Smalley. The Indian-born golfer became the first Englishman in 107 years to win the tournament, ending a drought that stretched back to Jim Barnes’ triumph in 1919.

Rai finished the week at nine under par after carding a final round of 65. He pulled away from the field with four birdies on the back nine, including a remarkable 68-foot putt on the 17th hole that all but sealed the title.

When you watch Aaron Rai at the PGA Championship, you may notice that he uses iron covers on his clubs and wears two gloves — two habits often considered golf faux pas. But both are actually inspiring.

Rai grew up in a working-class family in England, where his father sacrificed himself pic.twitter.com/sEv69FTWY4— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) May 17, 2026

The 31-year-old also became the first player in PGA Championship history to improve his score in every round of the tournament. Even after missing the winning putt, Rai remained calm and measured in his celebrations.

“Extremely, extremely proud,” Rai said after the win. “Over those 100 years, there are a lot of incredible and historic English players who have achieved incredible things and had phenomenal careers.”

Born in Wolverhampton and raised in nearby Wombourne, Rai took a very different path to many modern golfers. Instead of heading to the United States for college golf, he turned pro at age 17 after discussions with family and mentors.

“I turned pro when I was 17,” Rai told Golf Digest. “We believed that turning to a professional was the best way to learn, even though I probably wasn’t ready for that.”

Rai started on the PGA EuroPro Tour in 2014 before gradually working his way up the ranks of the pros. He made his major debut at the 2017 US Open, though success at golf’s biggest events didn’t come immediately. Prior to that win, his best major finishes were tied for 19th at the 2024 US Open and 2025 PGA Championship.

The Wolverhampton-born golfer entered the final round two shots behind overnight leader Alex Smalley and was one over 8 after eight holes after mixing three bogeys with two birdies. His challenge gained steam on the par-5 ninth, where he drained a 40-foot eagle putt that changed the course of the round.

Rai continued to put pressure on the chasing pack with birdies at the 13th and 16th before producing a championship-clinching moment at the 17th. His long birdie putt sent the crowd into celebration and effectively clinched the Wanamaker Trophy.

“Very surreal,” Rai said after the win. “It’s been a bit of a frustrating season so to be here is definitely beyond my wildest imagination.

WHO IS AARON RAI?

Rai was born on March 3, 1995 in a family with deep Indian roots. His father Amrik Singh was born in England to Indian immigrants, while his mother Dalvir Shukla moved to England from Kenya as a teenager.

His upbringing focused on discipline and hard work. His father combined community work with amateur tennis, while his mother held several jobs over the years, including as a nurse and an aerobics instructor. Rai grew up alongside his three older siblings and studied at Wolverhampton Grammar School.

Golf entered his life almost by accident. When he was four, he was hit by his brother’s hockey stick, prompting his mother to seek a safer sport. She bought him a set of plastic golf clubs and began a journey that would eventually take him to the top of the sport.

As a child, Rai was fascinated by Formula 1 and often attended junior golf events dressed in Ferrari gear before turning to golf full-time. He trained at the Three Hammers Golf Complex and joined Patshull Park Golf Club at the age of five.

Rai is now considered one of the most accurate drivers on the PGA Tour. His calm temperament and disciplined style have earned him a reputation as one of the most stable players in the game. He is also known for wearing two gloves and using iron covers during tournaments, both unusual sights in professional golf.

However, the iron covers reflect his upbringing. Rai often explained that as a youngster, golf equipment was expensive and difficult to replace, so protecting his clubs became a habit he never left. Even after making it to the PGA Tour, he maintained a routine as a reminder of his journey and his family’s sacrifices.

Outside of golf, Rai is married to Indian golfer Gaurika Bishnoi, a multiple winner on the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour who also competes on the Ladies European Tour. Rai sometimes gave her carriers during tournaments.

Before his triumph at the PGA Championship, Rai’s biggest victory came at the Wyndham Championship 2024. His breakthrough at one of golf’s biggest events now ranks him among some of the sport’s most famous names. From a small village in England to becoming the first Englishman in over a century to win the PGA Championship, Aaron Rai created one of the most remarkable stories in modern golf.

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Issued by:

Saurabh Kumar

Published on:

18 May 2026 09:58 IST