English golfer Aaron Rai wins PGA Championship with 70-foot putt

The Underdog Moment

Aaron Rai entered the final round of the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club as the 44th-ranked player in the world. Twenty-two golfers were within four shots of the lead heading into Sunday. Few expected the 31-year-old Englishman to emerge from the pack and claim his first major title.

The Tournament Turns

Rai’s round shifted decisively on hole 9, a par-5, when he sank a 40-foot putt for eagle to go out in 1-under 34. “I was just trying to focus on speed,” Rai explained after the round. “Hit a great putt, great speed, and we were lucky it went in. Definitely helped and provided a bit of a boost to the round.” That boost continued throughout the back nine, where Rai made nearly every crucial putt his competitors could not.

The Defining Shot

At hole 17, a par-3, Rai delivered the moment that defined his championship. He drained a nearly 70-foot birdie putt that sent the gallery into a frenzy and opened a three-shot cushion over his nearest competition. “Definitely wasn’t trying to hole that putt,” Rai said. “The shadow of the pin gave a really nice line for probably the last 10 feet. But it was so long that it was just trying to put good speed on it and make a good putt.”

Victory and History

Rai’s final score of 9-under 274 finished three shots ahead of Jon Rahm and Alex Smalley, who tied for second place. His victory carried historic weight: Rai became the first English golfer to win the PGA Championship since Jim Barnes in 1919 - a 107-year drought. He also ended a streak of 10 consecutive American winners at the championship, breaking a three-decade pattern at major golf championships.

The Reward

Beyond the trophy, Rai earned $3.69 million and secured lifetime exemptions into the PGA Championship and five-year exemptions into the Masters, U.S. Open, Open Championship, and the Players Championship. Prior to this week, his only PGA Tour victory had come at the 2024 Wyndham Championship.

What the Victory Means

For Rai, the achievement represents the culmination of a long professional journey. “So much goes into it from being a junior golfer to developing the game to have aspirations of turning professional,” he reflected. “Then you realize once you turn professional how good some of these guys are.” Major champions like Scottie Scheffler (world No. 1), Rory McIlroy, and Xander Schauffele finished well behind Rai’s winning total, demonstrating the significance of his upset victory.

References: Long-shot Aaron Rai 68-foot putt PGA Championship | Aaron Rai wins the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink