England’s Aaron Rai has racked up a whole host of firsts after emerging from a bunched pack to win the US PGA Championship at a testing Aronimink.
A first major title of his career. The first Englishman to win the Wanamaker Trophy in over a century. The first non-American to triumph in a decade. And surely the first major champion who wears two gloves while he is playing, a continuation of how he learned the game as a child.
On a course set-up which has scrambled many minds over the past four days, 31-year-old Rai played with clarity and composure in Sunday’s final round.
After methodically putting himself into the lead, a moment of magic ensured the Wolverhampton-born Rai will go down in golfing folklore.
Expertly draining a 69ft putt on the 17th green, the second longest of the whole week, all but clinched victory.
It helped Rai, who had never finished in the top 10 at a major, card a magnificent five-under-par 65 to finish nine under overall.
That was enough to end three shots clear of Spain’s two-time major champion Jon Rahm and unheralded American Alex Smalley, the overnight leader, who finished joint second.
Rai stood tall and kept mistakes off his card while the more illustrious names around him fell short.
Bidding to add a third US PGA title to his successful Masters defence last month, Rory McIlroy closed with a one-under 69 to finish five shots back.
McIlroy started the day three back of Smalley and birdied the second hole, but his frustration grew during a run of 10 pars before his hopes were virtually extinguished with a bogey at the driveable par-four 13th.-BB
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Aaron Rai holds the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the PGA Championship