Aaron Rai is two shots behind leader Alex Smalley heading into Sunday at the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club. The 31-year-old from Wolverhampton, England turned professional in 2012 and has quietly assembled one of the stronger major championship records among players outside the top tier of the world rankings.
Aaron Rai: Fast Facts
- Full Name: Aaron Rai
- Born: March 3, 1995 (Age 31)
- Hometown: Wolverhampton, England
- Residence: Wolverhampton, England
- Turned Professional: 2012
Background
Rai is a product of the DP World Tour, where he won multiple times before establishing himself as a regular on the PGA TOUR. He did not play college golf and turned professional at 17.
PGA Championship History
Rai has made two cuts in three PGA Championship starts, with a consistent upward trajectory in his results.
| Year | Course | Finish | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Kiawah Island | MC | 81-75 (+12) |
| 2024 | Valhalla GC | T-39 | 68-68-70-71 (-7) |
| 2025 | Quail Hollow Club | T-19 | 67-72-74-69 (-2) |
Career PGA Championship Earnings: $263,490
Cuts Made: 2 of 3
Best Finish: T-19 (2025, Quail Hollow)
Lowest Round: 67 (Round 1, 2025, Quail Hollow)
His 2025 Quail Hollow performance is worth noting — he opened with a 67, ranking 4th in the field after Round 1, and ranked 3rd in approach play for the week. He finished T-19, his best PGA Championship result to date.
Major Championship Résumé
Rai has made 12 major starts with nine cuts made — a strong rate of conversion. His best major finish of T-19 has been achieved three times across three different majors.
| Year | Major | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | PGA Championship (Valhalla) | T-39 |
| 2024 | U.S. Open (Pinehurst) | T-19 |
| 2024 | The Open (Royal Troon) | T-75 |
| 2025 | Masters Tournament | T-27 |
| 2025 | PGA Championship (Quail Hollow) | T-19 |
| 2025 | U.S. Open (Oakmont) | T-33 |
| 2025 | The Open (Royal Portrush) | T-34 |
| 2026 | Masters Tournament | 48th |
His approach play has been a consistent strength across major starts — ranking 3rd at the 2025 PGA Championship, 5th at the 2025 Open Championship, and inside the top 25 at multiple other majors.
2026 Season
Rai's most significant result entering Aronimink came the week prior — a 5th place finish at the Myrtle Beach Classic, where he posted rounds of 65-67-66-71 (-15) and ranked 4th around the greens for the week.
| Tournament | Result |
|---|---|
| Sony Open in Hawaii | T-50 |
| AT&T Pebble Beach | T-73 |
| The Genesis Invitational (Riviera) | T-28 |
| Cognizant Classic | T-23 |
| Masters Tournament | 48th |
| Zurich Classic | T-24 |
| Myrtle Beach Classic | 5th |
