PLAYER PROFILE · PGA & DP WORLD TOUR
Aaron Rai is a major champion – the quietest, most meticulous man on tour, who in 2026 became the first Englishman in more than a century to win the PGA Championship. His victory at Aronimink was the crowning moment of one of golf’s most understated and admirable careers.
| Full name | Aaron Rai |
|---|---|
| Born | 3 March 1995, Wolverhampton, England |
| Nationality | English |
| Heritage | Indian & Kenyan |
| Turned pro | 2012 |
| Tours | PGA Tour, DP World Tour |
| Height | 5′ 11″ (1.80 m) |
| Major championships | 1 (2026 PGA Championship) |
| PGA Tour wins | 2 (2024 Wyndham, 2026 PGA) |
Early Life & Heritage
Rai grew up in Wolverhampton in a family of Indian and Kenyan heritage – his father born in England to Indian immigrants, his mother having emigrated from Kenya – and was introduced to golf at the age of four, the story goes, after being struck by his brother’s hockey stick and steered towards a gentler game. From those beginnings he built one of the most precise and disciplined games in professional golf, turning professional in 2012 and rising steadily through the European ranks.
The Climb
Rai’s progress was patient and unshowy, the mark of a player who wins through relentless accuracy rather than raw power. He claimed the Hong Kong Open in 2018 and, more significantly, the 2020 Scottish Open in a play-off, announcing himself as a genuine talent on the biggest European stages. In 2024 he broke through in America, winning the Wyndham Championship for his first PGA Tour title, and added the Abu Dhabi Championship in 2025 – the foundations of a career that was building, quietly, towards something far bigger.
The 2026 PGA Championship
That something arrived at Aronimink in 2026. Rai controlled the year’s second major with the calm precision that defines him, closing at nine under par to become the first English winner of the PGA Championship since Jim Barnes in 1919 – a wait of 107 years. It was a victory that captured the affection of the golfing public precisely because of the man who achieved it: no theatrics, no bravado, simply the finest exhibition of controlled, accurate golf, delivered by the most modest of champions. For the fuller story, see our recap of Rai’s Wanamaker triumph and our long-read on his road to Aronimink.
Playing Style
Rai is the ultimate precision player – one of the straightest drivers and most accurate iron players in the game, a golfer who dismantles courses through position and control rather than length. The two gloves, the iron covers, the fastidious attention to detail: all speak of a methodical, perfectionist temperament that translates directly into the relentless consistency of his golf. In an era that prizes power above all, Rai is a reminder that accuracy, patience and calm can still win the biggest prizes of all.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many majors has Aaron Rai won?
Aaron Rai has won one major championship – the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink – becoming the first English player to win the Wanamaker Trophy since Jim Barnes in 1919, a landmark victory for English golf.
How old is Aaron Rai and where is he from?
Rai was born on 3 March 1995 in Wolverhampton, England. His family is of Indian and Kenyan heritage – his father was born in England to Indian immigrants, and his mother emigrated from Kenya. He turned professional in 2012.
Why does Aaron Rai wear two gloves?
Unlike almost every other professional, who wears a single glove on the lead hand, Rai wears a glove on both hands – a distinctive habit that, along with his use of iron head covers, makes him one of the most recognisable players on tour for his meticulous, detail-oriented approach.
What has Aaron Rai won in his career?
Alongside his 2026 PGA Championship, Rai has won on the PGA Tour at the 2024 Wyndham Championship and has multiple DP World Tour titles, including the 2020 Scottish Open and the 2025 Abu Dhabi Championship. He is known as one of the most accurate and consistent players in the game.
Who is Aaron Rai married to?
Rai is married to Gaurika Bishnoi, a professional golfer from India, making them one of the sport’s notable golfing couples.