Three of golf’s top stars – Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele and Jon Rahm – have singled out new PGA champion Aaron Rai for special praise.
Rai turned a 13th appearance at the game’s highest level into a lucky first major championship success, capturing the PGA Championship by an impressive three shots in glorious conditions on the host Aronimink course.
GAME’S ELITE SOUND SPECIAL PRAISE FOR RAI ….
A trio of the game’s elite – @McIlroyRory , Xander Schauffele & @JonRahmOfficial – single out new @PGAChampionship champ Aaron Rai for special praise following historic Aronimink victory
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— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) May 18, 2026
In fairness to McIlroy, Rai had not completed his round when the double Masters champion was asked his throughts on Rai’s likely victory.
“Even though, look, Aaron is getting away from the field a little bit and looks like he’s going to win, which is great. You won’t find one person on property who’s not happy for him,“ said Rors.
Schauffele contested the closing round in McIlroy’s company
“I’m super happy for him. He’s such a good dude,” said Schauffele.
“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 9pm. and going to the gym at 9.45pm.
“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.”
Rahm posted a closing two-under on the day and finished tied-second at six-under, and despite narrowly missing out on a second major championship, the LIV star was also full of praise for Rai.
“I haven’t spent a lot of time with him but I have heard consistently there’s very few people that are nicer and kinder human beings than Aaron Rai,” said Rahm.
“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.”
Not only did Rai receive a massive $3.69m first prize but he also 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 following his victory.
Rai’s success has also seen him leap 29 places to be the new World No. 15.
