Aaron Rai

Aaron Rai became the first Englishman to win the PGA Championship in more than a century when he triumphed at Aronimink Golf Club in May.

A 40ft putt for eagle on the par-5 ninth hole was followed by a stunning back nine showing where he surged into the lead, eventually winning by three shots.

Prior to capturing his maiden major, Rai rose from 130th to 21st in the world rankings in a mere 14 months, with victory at the PGA TOUR’s Wyndham Championship in August 2024 a highlight of that period.

He began the week with back-to-back 65s and closed with a 64 to beat Max Greyserman by two.

Rai then went on to win the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in November 2025, beating Tommy Fleetwood in a play-off at Yas Links for his third title on the DP World Tour.

His Open debut was in 2021 after coming eighth on the previous season’s DP World Tour, and Royal Birkdale will represent his fourth appearance at golf's original championship.

Rai's first DP World Tour victory was the 2018 Hong Kong Open a year after three titles on the Challenge circuit. They included the Kenya Open with his mother watching on her first visit to the country of her birth in 47 years.