Two gloves, one major – England's Rai wins US PGA title
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 since Jim Barnes in 1919. And surely the first major champion who wears two gloves while he is playing.
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 Rai will go down in golfing folklore.
Expertly draining a 69-foot putt on the 17th green – the second longest putt of the whole week – all but clinched victory.
It helped Rai, who had never previously finished in the top-10 at a major, card a magnificent five-under 65 to finish nine under overall – three shots clear of Spain's two-time major champion Jon Rahm and unheralded American Alex Smalley – the overnight leader – who finished joint second.
"It is very surreal," said Rai, who has struggled to practice at times this year because of a neck injury.
"It has been a frustrating season so being stood here is outside of my wildest imagination."
Behind Rahm and Smalley, there was a three-way tie on five under between American two-time champion Justin Thomas, Swedish Ryder Cup star Ludvig Aberg and little-known German Matthias Schmid.
Former world number one Thomas had posted the early target after a five-under 65, then sat back in the clubhouse to watch and wait patiently – while hoping for a "little bit of help" to win.
The wind did not whip up as Thomas hoped. Yet, with the severely-sloped greens playing firm in the Pennsylvanian sun, and the thick rough continuing to be penal, scoring opportunities remained at a premium.
For almost everyone other than Rai.
All week long it felt like a strategic thinker would be the one to prevail and Rai, known on tour for his diligence, carefully plotted his way to victory.
Keeping his ball on the fairway from the tee – he was fourth best for the week – proved to be an effective tactic which others did not find as simple.
Once Rai moved clear of the pack on seven under – thanks to birdies on the 11th and 13th, going up and down from a front bunker on the latter – it looked like a score which would not be caught.
In what was now by far the biggest moment of his career, an emotionless Rai stayed in the zone. The experience of beating a strong field at the DP World Tour's Abu Dhabi Championship in November was perhaps something he was able to draw on.
Another tap-in birdie on the par-five 16th put more daylight between him and the pack, before a putt from the other end of the measuring stick put victory within touching distance.
Rai somehow negotiated an impossible-looking putt to move three shots clear of his rivals.
Only then did Rai show a flicker of emotion.
But the gentle fist pump as the fans around him went wild was telling and perfectly encapsulated how Rai has become a major champion – by keeping calm in the eye of the storm.
"I definitely wasn't trying to hole that putt," Rai smiled as he clutched the Wanamaker Trophy.
"The shadow of the pin gave a really nice line for the last 10 feet so that helped with the visual.
"It just tracked really well – it was amazing to see it go in."
More to follow.
