AARON RAI has gone from an almost complete unknown to making headlines across the world after being crowned the champion of the USPGA.
The 31-year-old secured a one-shot victory over German Matti Schmidt at Aronimink to become the first English player to win the competition since 1919, ending a 107-year English drought.
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Aaron Rai won his first PGA Tour Major Credit: Getty
He becomes the first Englishman to win the competition since 1919 Credit: Getty
Rai, who was born in Staffordshire to a father of Indian descent and a mother of Kenyan descent, joined Cornishman Jim Barnes as the only Englishmen to win the title.
Prior to his heroics over the weekend, the world No44 had scored three European Tour wins, but this is his first major victory and has earned him just shy of £2.8million in prize money.
Wolverhampton-raised Rai lives in Jacksonville, Florida, with his wife and fellow pro golfer Gaurika Bishnoi and was seen hugging her tightly after his stunning win.
But Rai can be counted among an unorthodox breed of golfers for his curious use of iron covers for his clubs and wearing gloves on BOTH hands – as opposed to just one on his non-dominant hand like many rivals.
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Even his choice of golf club is unusual, as Rai plays with a 2019 TaylorMade M6 driver which can be bought on eBay for around £75.
Yet the reason for his use of iron covers is quite sweet, and keeps his roots firmly with him when on Tour.
In a 2021 interview with SiriusXM PGA Tour radio, he said: “I grew up in very much a working-class family, and golf has always been a very expensive game.
“I started from the age of four years old, and my dad used to pay for the equipment, pay for my memberships, my entry fees. And it wasn’t money that we really had, to be honest, but he’d always buy me the best clubs.
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“When I was about seven or eight years old, [my dad] bought me a set of Titleist 690 MBs, and they were like 800-1,000 pounds back then, just for a set of clubs for a kid.
“I cherished them. When we used to go out and practice, he used to clean every single groove afterward with a pin and with baby oil.
“To protect the golf clubs, he thought it would be good to put iron covers on it. I’ve pretty much had iron covers on all of my sets ever since just to appreciate the value of what I have, and it all started with that first set.
“Although on the PGA Tour, we get given equipment, and we get given everything that we need, it’s more out of principle. The value of not losing perspective of what I have and where I am.
“The covers are going to stay, I’m sorry.”
Likewise, the pair of gloves is more than just a stylistic choice, not that he cares about that anyway.
He told Golf Monthly: “It started when I was 8 years old. I just happened to be given these two gloves, the guy who actually makes them sent a pair over, and I got into the habit of wearing them.
“Then, a few weeks down the line, my dad forgot to put the two gloves in the bag so I had to play with one.
Rai is married to professional golfer Gaurika Bishnoi Credit: Getty
He is one of very few players to wear gloves on both hands Credit: Alamy
“It was terrible. I couldn’t play, I couldn’t feel the grip, so I’ve always stuck with the two gloves ever since.”
Even his tees are unique on the tour, as he uses orange castle tees more commonly associated with weekend 20 handicaps than major-championship- winning pros.
Yet things could have been very different for Rai, the youngest of four siblings – two sisters and a brother – if he had never been hit by his brother’s hockey stick at the age of four.
That accident prompted his mum to buy safe plastic golf clubs as an alternative and introduced him to the sport he would one day become a Major champion in.
Rai grew up as a Formula One superfan and dreamed of being a driver, and before the age of eight, he was regularly seen wearing Ferrari merch to golf competitions.
And his newfound stardom could soon see him playing a round with some of the fastest drivers in the world, with many, including reigning world champion Lando Norris, known to be avid golfers in their spare time.
But it seems golf was his destiny both on and off the course, with wife Gaurika – whom he married in July 2025 – also being a player on the Ladies European Tour who has collected eight career wins since turning professional in 2016.
Rai described winning the PGA Championship as “very surreal”, adding: “It’s been a bit of a frustrating season so to be standing here is definitely outside of my wildest imagination.
“I think it is really good consistency over the last few weeks with practice.
“My body feels great and I have really enjoyed the course this week.
“It is phenomenal to be stood here.”