Turning pro in 2012 when he was just 17, Aaron Rai has gradually climbed the ranks of professional golf, making his way through the Challenge Tour, Asian Tour, and European Tour. He joined the PGA Tour in 2022, and four years later, stunned the golf world by winning his first major title at the 2026 PGA Championship. With a final round of 65, including a 69-foot putt for a birdie on the 17th green at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania, the 31-year-old Rai became the first golfer from England to win the PGA Championship since Jim Barnes in 1919. He also became only the second golfer of South Asian descent (after Vijay Singh) to win one of golf’s four major titles.
Born in Wolverhampton, England, to parents of Indian descent, Rai now lives in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. He is married to Gaurika Bishnoi, a professional golfer from India. Since winning the PGA Championship, he has noticed many more fans recognizing him and talking to him, even at the grocery store. What was especially meaningful to him, he told the Golf Channel, was his father’s reaction when they met in Florida following Rai’s victory. “My dad, he’s a very proud man. He doesn’t show a huge amount of emotions,” Rai said. “But the first evening that I saw him, his hug was a little bit different. His smile was a little bit different. We sat and we spoke for probably a good couple of hours or so.”
Compiled and partly written by Indian humorist MELVIN DURAI, author of the novel Bala Takes the Plunge. [Comments? Contributions? Please email us at melvin@melvindurai.com. We welcome jokes, quotes, online clips, and more.]