PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

May 17, 2026

Aaron Rai

Aronimink Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. 9th hole, second shot, what did you hit, and how much did that hole turned things around for you?

AARON RAI: We hit 5-wood. I think it was 260 yards to the pin. Slightly downwind, landed just short of the green, and came up very, very well. The putt going good on the green for eagle was definitely a bonus. Again, it was probably a 45-footer. I was just trying to focus on speed. Hit a great putt, great speed, and we were lucky it went in.

Definitely helped and provided a bit of a boost to the round. I think previous to hole 9, we bogeyed No. 6 and bogeyed No. 8. So that definitely helped to get things moving in a better direction.

Q. You're only 31, but does it feel like a journey? What should people know about your journey?

AARON RAI: Yeah, it definitely feels like a journey. Everyone playing in the field this week has a great journey to be able to share, and I'm no exception to that.

Yeah, so much goes into it from being a junior golfer to developing the game to have aspirations of turning professional. Then you realize once you turn professional how good some of these guys are and how strong the level of professional golf is, not just on the PGA TOUR, the DP World Tour, and all the feeders that go into it.

So, yeah, it's a really long journey to even get to compete at major championships at events like the PGA. Yeah, to be stood here, it still hasn't sunk in for sure. Amazing journey.