PGA Championship: England’s Aaron Rai storms into major with three-shot victory over Jon Rahm at Aronimink Golf Club | Golf News

England’s Aaron Rai claimed his maiden title after a stunning three-shot victory at the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club.

Rai entered the final round two strokes behind and was three behind with 10 holes to play, before a 40-foot eagle on the par-five ninth sparked a scoring spree that pushed him up the crowded leaderboard.

The World No 44 posted two birdies on the three-hole stretch from the 11th and added back-to-back gains from the 16th, including a 70-foot putt on the par-three 17th, to grab control and a three-shot cushion.

A putt-putt par in the end closed out the final round of 65 and saw him finish the week at nine under, Rai ending a streak of 10 consecutive American wins at the PGA Championship and becoming the first British winner since Jim Barnes in 1919.

Jon Rahm finished tied with overnight leader Alex Smalley as he chased the third leg of the Grand Slam, while two-time PGA champion Justin Thomas shared fourth place with Ludwig Aberg and Germany’s Matti Schmid.

Rory McIlroy’s bid for consecutive major titles ended five strokes behind a tie for seventh with Xander Schauffele and Cameron Smith, while Kurt Kitayama jumped into the top-10 with a round-of-the-day 63 and Scottie Scheffler ended his title defense at two under after a final-round 69.

How Rai cut off the sweet game at Aronimink

About 30 players were in the top five going into the final round, and Rahm made the first move after posting a birdie-birdie start to pull level with Smalley at six under.

Rahm lost ground after the next hole, where Smalley holed a 25-footer to miss and stay ahead, only to swing three shots at the sixth to see Smalley make a double-bogey and Schmid to cover from 20 feet and card the third birdie in five holes.

Rai – who plays two teams behind the leaders – was behind after a birdie on the opening hole but found himself behind after bogeys at the sixth and eighth, before his long eagle on the ninth moved him back to tied-for-second and within one of Schmid.

The German began his back-to-back with a bogey to give the lead to Rai, who made a close birdie at the 11th and stepped up from the greenside bunker to take a shot at the undriveable par-four 13th.

Schmid bogeyed the same hole to reduce Rai’s advantage but fell back three times as the Wolverhampton golfer took control of the tournament, putting two from 20 to birdie the 16th and then holed his longest putt of the week to leave victory all but assured.

Rai then found the green in regulation at the end of the par-four and two putters to win, with his victory marking the first time in the modern era that the opening two majors of the year have been won by European players.

“That’s right [winning] it’s very surreal,” Rai said. “It’s been a frustrating season so to be standing here is beyond my wildest imagination. I think it’s great to agree on the last few weeks of practice. My body feels great and I really enjoyed the lesson this week.”

Rahm combined for four birdies and two bogeys in a final-round 68 to end the week at six under, while Smalley three-eagled 16 and canceled out a bogey at the next with a 20-foot birdie at the last to also tie for second.

Scheffler and McIlroy are missing from Aronimink

McIlroy boosted his hopes of a third PGA Championship victory when he followed up a 10-footer to save the first hole by birdieing the second, getting him within two, and closing the front nine with pars.

The World No 2 failed to capitalize on a 379-yard shot on the par-five ninth and saw his par streak end with a bogey on the driveable 13th, where he hit three woods and missed the second green.

McIlroy kept his slim hopes alive by rolling in a 25-foot birdie on the next but was unable to capitalize on the 16th, leaving him at par for the week on par-fives, and finishing tied for seventh, equaling his best finish at the PGA Championship since winning in 2014.

Scheffler entered the final day five back and outside the top-20 as he chased a fifth major in as many seasons, but the world No 1 – who can complete a career Grand Slam at the US Open next month – struggled all week.

“When I look back on a week like this, I feel like I had a great year in vegetables and to have a disappointing week in major vegetables is a tough pill to swallow,” Scheffler admitted. Sky Sportsas he missed six putts from within five feet during the week.

What’s next?

The PGA Tour heads to Texas for the CJ Cup Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch, where Scheffler returns as the defending champion. Early coverage starts on Thursday from 12.45pm on Sky Sports+ and 5pm on Sky Sports Golf.

The DP World Tour is in Belgium for the Soudal Open, and the next major for the men is the US Open at Shinnecock Hills from June 18-21, and both are also live on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream without a contract.

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