Rory McIlroy says PGA Championship players are united in Aaron Rai view
Rory McIlroy says PGA Championship players are united in Aaron Rai view
Kylee Hansen Mon, May 18, 2026 at 8:44 AM UTC
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Rory McIlroy and Aaron Rai
Rory McIlroy has praised Aaron Rai (Image: Getty Images)
Rory McIlroy believes every player at the PGA Championship will be delighted by Aaron Rai's victory - and the six-time major winner had nothing but praise for the Englishman following his breakthrough first major title.
Rai etched his name in the history books as the first PGA Championship winner to shoot a lower score in each successive round, carding a brilliant 5-under 65 to leave the field in his wake on Sunday. Having sat tied for 15th at the halfway stage of the season's second major, four birdies on the back nine proved the decisive catalyst.
McIlroy struggled to challenge the leaders throughout the day, even losing his composure with a fan at one point, yet was overjoyed to watch Rai claim the coveted trophy.
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"Aaron is getting away from the field a little bit and looks like he's going to win, which is great," said McIlroy as Rai drained a remarkable 68-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole. You won't find one person on property who's not happy for him."
McIlroy was paired with former Ryder Cup standout Xander Schauffele during the final round, and the American was equally effusive in his admiration for the champion.
Rai won at the Aronimink Golf Club in Philadelphia (Image: Getty Images)
"I'm super happy for him. He's such a good dude," said Schauffele following the conclusion of play.
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"Rarely do you see people work really hard. I mean, that's not fair. Rarely do you feel like people work way harder than you is what I was trying to say. I feel like I've played a pretty good amount of time, and Aaron is always there.
"He's always in the gym. He's always on the range. He's always -- you know, at the Scottish, I'm staying right on site there. I thought it was fun for Austin and I to go putt. Aaron is finishing up his little putting session at 9:00 p.m. and going to the gym at 9:45. This was three years ago. I think that's what it's about to be a major champion. You put the work in when nobody's looking. Super pumped for him and his team."
LIV Golf star Jon Rahm posted a two-under on the day and finished tied-second. Despite narrowly missing out on the title, he was equally generous in his praise for Rai.
"I haven't spent a lot of time with him," said Rahm. "But I have heard consistently there's very few people that are nicer and kinder human beings than Aaron Rai. Anybody that wears or uses head covers in his irons because he coveted his irons when he was a kid so much that he wanted to respect the equipment so much, and to still do it?
"Yeah, exactly, he's still doing it shows a lot about a person. I have heard absolutely nothing but good or great things about Aaron Rai. He's been playing great golf. He's a fantastic golfer. He's been able to perform really well. What he did today is nothing short of special."
With his victory, Rai secured a lifetime exemption into the PGA Championship and a five-year exemption into the Masters, the U.S. Open, The Open, and on the PGA Tour. He will also take home a replica Wanamaker trophy and a champion's money clip. Rai also holds the distinction of being the first English-born golfer to claim the PGA Championship in more than a century, achieving the feat at Aronimink Golf Club.
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Source: “AOL Sports”
