Quick Answer
Englishman Aaron Rai won the 2026 PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania on Sunday, May 17, 2026. He shot a final round 65 to finish at 9 under par (271 total) and lifted his first major championship trophy.
Jon Rahm finished alone in second at 6 under. Ludvig Aberg, Alex Smalley, Justin Thomas and Matthias Schmid tied for third at 5 under. Rai became only the second Englishman ever to win the PGA Championship, ending a drought that dated back to 1919.
Aaron Rai’s Historic Sunday
Rai, 31, from Wolverhampton, started Sunday two shots off the lead. He is best known on tour for his trademark of wearing two golf gloves rather than one, and for a methodical, repeatable swing that holds up under pressure.
His final round was a masterclass. Rai posted a 7 under 65, headlined by a 40 foot eagle putt earlier in the round and a stunning 68 foot birdie on the treacherous par 3 17th. That birdie gave him a three shot cushion walking to the 18th tee.
Breaking a 100 Year English Drought
Rai is only the second Englishman to win the Wanamaker Trophy. The first and only previous English winner was Jim Barnes, who took the inaugural PGA Championship in 1916 and won it again in 1919.
Despite serious challenges over the decades from Nick Faldo, Lee Westwood, Justin Rose and Tommy Fleetwood, no Englishman had managed to lift the trophy in more than a century. Rai’s quiet, unflashy game finally broke the streak.
Jon Rahm’s Valiant Pursuit
Jon Rahm shot a final round 68 to finish second on his own at 6 under. The Spaniard played aggressively all day and gave himself multiple looks for eagle, but every time he closed the gap, Rai answered with a long putt.
It was a quietly excellent week for Rahm, who has been chasing his first PGA Championship for years. A solo second place finish in a major still pays handsomely and shores up his world ranking, even if the trophy got away.
The Four Way Tie for Third
Four players finished at 5 under, sharing third place.
Ludvig Aberg
The young Swede shot a steady 69 on Sunday. Aberg is one of the purest ball strikers on tour and his composure inside the top five of a major is becoming routine. A first major win for him looks like a matter of when, not if.
Alex Smalley
Smalley started Sunday with a two shot lead and the weight of a maiden major on his shoulders. He scrambled brilliantly early, including a 26 foot par save on the 3rd hole, and shot a respectable 67. It simply was not enough to hold off Rai’s 65.
Justin Thomas
Two time PGA Champion Justin Thomas surged up the leaderboard with a Sunday 65 of his own, proving he still has the firepower to contend at the highest level after a quiet stretch.
Matthias Schmid
Germany’s Matthias Schmid matched Thomas with a 65 to record a career best major finish, a result that should accelerate his standing inside the top 50 in the world.
Other Notable Finishes
- Rory McIlroy finished tied for 7th at 4 under after a mid round bounce back birdie on the 14th. Strong week, no real charge.
- Cameron Smith and Xander Schauffele joined McIlroy at 4 under in a tie for 7th.
- Scottie Scheffler, the world number one, was unusually quiet, finishing tied for 14th at 2 under.
- Jordan Spieth rolled in a 40 foot putt on 18 for a final round 68 to finish at 1 under. His career Grand Slam quest waits at least another year.
About Aronimink Golf Club
The 108th PGA Championship was hosted by Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, just outside Philadelphia. The Donald Ross designed course played long and demanding all week, with firm greens that rewarded careful approach play and punished anyone short sided.
Aronimink has now hosted the PGA Championship twice in the modern era. Its reputation for protecting par made Rai’s 9 under winning score genuinely impressive.
What This Means for the Rest of the Major Season
With one major in the books, focus shifts to the US Open in June. Rai now enjoys five year exemptions into the other three majors and a lifetime exemption into the PGA Championship. He also moves sharply up the Official World Golf Ranking, the FedEx Cup standings and the Ryder Cup conversation for Team Europe.
For Jon Rahm, Ludvig Aberg and Alex Smalley, the runner up finishes serve as confirmation that they are all in genuine major contention going into the summer slate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Aaron Rai’s winning score at the 2026 PGA Championship?
Rai finished at 9 under par (271 total) after a final round 65.
Why does Aaron Rai wear two gloves?
Rai has worn a glove on both hands throughout his pro career to keep grip pressure even and to avoid blisters on long practice days.
Where will the 2027 PGA Championship be played?
The 2027 PGA Championship is currently scheduled for PGA Frisco in Texas, the new home of the PGA of America.
