Aaron Rai can now turn next fortnight’s overdue honeymoon into a 1.3m Euro celebration.
That’s how much Rai collected after his stunning play-off victory at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in the UAE capital.
For a second time in their careers Rai and fellow Englishman Tommy Fleetwood found themselves in a play-off for a major DP World Tour title and for a second occasion Rai defeated Fleetwood for the first prize purse, five years after denying Fleetwood for another major bank sponsored event – the 2020 Barclays Scottish Open.
BIZARRE FACT ….
Aaron Rai has now won twice @DPWorldTour & both wins – 2020 @ScottishOpen & 2025 @ADGolfChamps being the defeat of fellow Englishman @TommyFleetwood1 in a play-off
Read: https://t.co/1nImJOY0Lz
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✅ @TOURMISS pic.twitter.com/fTmvj7s3dj
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) November 9, 2025
Rai’s honeymoon with fellow golf professionl wife Gaurika Bishnoi was in July so the honeymoon celebration has been on hold till the end of the season, so with the new World No. 23 choosing to wait to post this week’s DP World Tour Championship for his and Gaurika properly celebrate.
The now 30-year-old Rai and his family had moved to England when he was very young and it was the same with the now 27-year-olf Gaurika, was also born in India and she and her family also moved to England. It’s no surprise it was in England the duo should first meet, no doubt competing in like events and also proudly sharing an Indian heritage.
You have to love the name Gaurika chose for her Instagram account name. Image – therealbestplayer
Aaron and Gaurika clearly have enjoyed golf and looking at the introduction on her super-named Instagram account, she’s very much proud of what she’s achieved. As well, her now husband gets a great plug.
And Gaurika’s Instagram account details. You have to love the name she’s chosen for her account – ‘therealstarplayer’.
Two wonderful photographs – on and off the golf course – of Mr and Mrs Rai. Images – therealstarplayer
Gaurika turned pro in 2016, four years following Rai’s move to the play-for-pay ranks.
She has played on the Ladies European Tour (LET) and has also played in the Hero Women’s Pro Golf Tour, where she has won eight titles. She was also the National Champion in India in 2015.
Fast forward to April this year and Rai drives down Magnolia Lane for a first time in his career. No surprise who is in passenger seat, his fiance.
She wrote of her Masters experience: “Best week ever? Easy yes ♥️⛳️ Had the most unforgettable experience @themasters with my favourite person ,” Gaurika wrote about her experience. Both images – therealstarplayer.
Rai was asked afterwards reflected on his now wife acting as his caddy on his also debut appearance at Augusta National.
“Yeah, it was great to share it with her. It’s not the only time that she hit it inside me,” said Rai.
“She got me, I think, three times during the round. Yeah, she played great. Yes, she plays professionally. Just amazing to be sharing it with her also.”
Golf Monthly reported during Masters week that Gaurika looked so accomplished during the Par-3 contest that she had fans wondering who she was. Indeed, the Masters host broadcast team was also wholly impressed with her ability, with Max Homa remarking: “She’s better than me at golf.”
Gaurika Bishnoi proudly standing the Hero Women’s Indian Open trophy back in 2023. Image – therealgolfstar
Her now PGA Tour pro husband returned the favour by carrying her bags during a recent LET event, the 2025 Hero Women’s Indian Open that was held a month ago in Gurgaon where Gaurika had grown up.
Disappointingly she missed the halfway cut by two shots with a pair of 77s.
In researching this article, the couple are members at India’s famed DLF Golf and Country Club where Gaurika has been playing golf since her early teens and also where’s she enjoyed success.
The DLF Club has played host to the men’s India Open from 2009 to 2025.
Rai contested the 2018 Hero Indian Open and sharing ninth place while some four years later he had earned enough on the PGA Tour’s secondard KornFerry Tour to earn a main Tour card for 2022.
A year later in the third round of the 2023 Players Championship Rai brought the house down with a hole-in-one at the infamous island green 17th.
Aaron Rai captures a maiden PGA Tour title at the 2024 Wyndham Championship. Image AP
A successful 2024 season saw Rai claim his maiden victory on the PGA Tour at the Wyndham Championship plus five other top-10 finishes as well as making 14 cuts in a row. He also qualified for the Tour Championship and was the only golfer in the 30-man field to do so without playing a single “Signature Series” event.
It was those results in 2024 that earned him a maiden 2025 Masters invitation.
After Sunday’s win in Abu Dhab, and the assurance of a top-50 in the world position at year’s end, Rai and his wife will be returning to Augusta, GA and you can be assured who will be caddying for him in the Par-3 Contest.
But first there is an overdue honeymoon to celebrate.
