Rai Looks To Make It A Lucky 13th Career Major Showing At Aronimink.

2 months ago by Comments Off on Rai Looks To Make It A Lucky 13th Career Major Showing At Aronimink.

England’s Aaron Rai is this week competing in his 13th major championship at the 108th PGA Championship at Aronimink.

Rai, 31, has superbly put himself into contention to win at the game’s highest level, posting a third round 67 and head to the final round in a five-way tie for second at four-under.

Rai made his major’s debut at the 2017 US Open while four years later he teed-up in a maiden PGA Championship.  His best result in the dozen majors has been three T19th places – 2021 Open, T19th at the 2024 US Open and then also a similiar finish at last year’s PGA Championship.

Rai is an eight-time pro career champion including having captured last year’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

He posted earlier Aronimink rounds of 70, 69 and kick-started day three with birdies at the first and second holes along with four other birdies in a round of 67 for his four-under tally.

Rai’s effort see’s him sharing second on four-under with four others including German Matti Schmid (65), Canadian Nick Taylor (65),  Spaniard Jon Rahm (67) and Swede Ludwig Aberg (68).

“It’s an extremely testing course, so I think it demands a lot of presence, a lot of patience, a lot of clarity“, said Rai.

“I’m trying my best to really stick in there and kind of take what comes.

“There’s always an element of nervousness, and I feel that, but I’ve really enjoyed it over the last couple of days, especially over the last nine holes or so today. It’s a great situation to be in. It’s a great golf course to challenge myself in.“

And while Rai is hoping 13 will be his lucky major championship number he was reminded that it has not been since 1919 when the last English-born golfer captured the PGA Championship and that beinb Jim Barnes in 1919.

Barnes had captured the first in 1916 but then WW1 halted the event till 1919.

“It’s actually the first that I heard of that statistic a few minutes ago. I didn’t realize that that was the case“, said Rai.

“Yeah, amazing, amazing to be in this position. A lot of really good golf to be here.

“I also know there’s such a long way to go. A lot of things can and will change tomorrow. So, yeah, amazing to be here, but trying not to get too far ahead of myself also“.

American Alex Smalley after bogeying the first, second and fourth holes superbly regrouped to post six birdies, including a birdie at the last and sign for a round of 69 and lead by two shots at six-under

 

 

 

 

 

 



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