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Aaron Rai becomes first English winner of PGA Championship in over a century

England's Aaron Rai has claimed his first major championship by winning the US PGA Championship - and becomes the first English winner of the event in more than a century.

The Wolverhampton-born 31-year-old, who dreamed of being a Formula 1 driver until he turned to golf as a boy, was three shots behind and approaching the turn at Aronimink Golf Club when he delivered a stunning performance.

Aaron Rai secures maiden major in PGA Championship thriller - follow live

He made a 40-foot eagle putt at the par-5 ninth hole to cap an uneven first nine, then ‌pulled away with four birdies on the back and converted a remarkable 68 1/2-foot birdie at the par-3 17th to remove ​any doubt.

His 5-under-par ​65 put him 9-under 271 and three strokes ahead of Jon Rahm of ‌Spain and Alex Smalley.

After being presented with the Wanamaker Trophy and landing the $3.69m (£2.76m) prize, Rai described the moment as "very surreal".

"It's been a bit of a frustrating season ​so to be standing here is definitely outside of my wildest imagination," he said.

"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."

Commenting on Rai's victory, Sky Sports Golf's David Howell said: "Aaron turned up at this wonderful course, played to his strengths and kept it on the straight and narrow.

"He ignored everyone else who was bombing it down there with driver. They did it with power and distance. He did it with accuracy.

"He putted brilliantly and his iron play was superb. Basically faultless."

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Rai, the world number 44, is the first Englishman to win the PGA Championship since Jim Barnes in 1919 and is the first player of Indian heritage to win a major.

His triumph, which comes a ⁠month after Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy retained his Masters title, marks the ⁠first time in the era of the four current major championships that the season's first two majors have been won by Europeans.

Sky News

(c) Sky News 2026: Aaron Rai becomes first English winner of PGA Championship in over a century

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