Aaron Rai Admits ‘It’s A Clean Slate’ Heading Into Open Championship As Golf’s Newest Major Champion.

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Golf’s newest major champion Aaron Rai admits it will be a ‘clean slate’ when he faces the certain excitement and great honour in teeing-up in next week’s 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

The 2026 PGA Championship winner will be contesting his second major championship since mid-May in brillinatly capturing the Rodman Wanamaker trophy by three shots.

After becoming the first golfer from England to win the PGA Championship since Jim Barnes in 1919, Rai continuied his impressive Arnomink form in sharing 11th place at last month’s US Open but he’s clearly super excited in heading to back to England for a first occasion and it what will surely be an extra special ‘welcome home’ in only a sixth Open Championshp.

“I think national opens are extremely important in the game plan. Obviously to the players of the nationality of where the Open is being held but even outside that have, there’s so much history that comes alongside with them, which sometimes isn’t there as much with some of the other events,” he said.

“So I think it’s extremely important those are still a part. The decisions are away from my pay grade, so I can’t really comment too much on that.

“For me personally, as I said, every Open has extreme meaning. But for me, the British Open is definitely up there. And I would say the Indian Open and the Kenyan Open just because of my background, they all have a little bit more significance to where I come from. So those are probably the three”.

Rai was asked ahead of this week’s Genesis Scottish Open, the event he captured in late 2020, how different will be his expectations be now he’s a major champion.

“I wouldn’t say it really changes my expectation”, he said.

“It certainly a belief that it’s incredible to have been able to come through some of the challenges of what a major presents.

“I think expectations are something that can be very — it’s a fine line between using experiences to give confidence and to give belief, but trying not to cross over that line where you take anything for granted because whether it’s the The Open Championship or whether it’s the Scottish Open or any other week, it’s a clean slate.

“So, it doesn’t really matter what you do in the future. You have to really give yourself to that week and do as best as you can.

“I think finding that balance is crucial next week but for any week in general, so yeah”.

Well said, Aaron.



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