Aaron Rai has credited his wife, professional golfer Gaurika Bishnoi, for helping him secure England's first PGA Championship win in 107 years. The 31-year-old from Wolverhampton became the first Englishman to win the tournament since 1919, earning $3,690,000 and a lifetime exemption. Despite the life-changing victory, Rai kept celebrations low-key, planning to visit his favorite burrito joint, Chipotle.
A Historic Win
Rai only learned about the century-long jinx on Saturday night. 'There's been a lot of incredible and historic English players over those hundred years,' Rai said. 'To win this event and to be the first from England in a long time is an amazing thing and something to be extremely proud of.'
Invaluable Support from His Wife
Rai dedicated the victory to Bishnoi, who gave him crucial advice on Saturday night after he lost his share of the lead with a bogey on the 18th. 'I'm not exaggerating when I say that I wouldn't be here without her,' Rai said. 'She's a professional golfer herself. Her mindset, advice, and thoughts are absolutely invaluable. We had a 30-minute conversation in the car before returning to the hotel, and some of the things she mentioned stayed with me today.'
Staying Focused Amid a Crowded Leaderboard
Rai revealed that the secret to navigating one of the most congested leaderboards in major golf history was to ignore it. 'Honestly, I didn't look too much at the leaderboard,' he said. 'I knew there were many people close, but regardless of how bunched it was, it required a really strong round. The course was punishing; you couldn't lose focus for a split second.'
Childhood Inspiration from Tiger Woods
As a child, Rai watched VHS tapes of Tiger Woods' early successes repeatedly. 'We watched them two or three times a week,' he said. 'The videos of his US Amateur wins and early professional career. He's such an icon and someone I idolized. I was in awe watching everything he could do.' The realization of joining Woods on the trophy finally dawned on him. 'To have my name even with his on this trophy is incredible,' he said with a grin.
