Aaron Rai Makes a 70-Foot Bomb to Put the PGA Championship to Bed

With a leaderboard full of golf’s biggest names, it was Englishman Aaron Rai who hosted the Wanamaker Trophy on Sunday. He began the day at 4 under, two shots off the lead of Alex Smalley, but thanks to six birdies and an eagle, he finished the day at 9 under.

One of the birdies, though, was better than the rest.

At the par-3 17th, Rai, with the pin on the left side and water lurking, hit a cut to the right side of the green for safety. He was dry, but faced anything but a guaranteed two-putt.

Then he hooped it.

“I definitely wasn’t trying to make that putt,” Rai joked with Amanda Balionis after lifting his new hardware for the first time.

His performance on Sunday was a true closing of the door. Rory McIlroy couldn't find a birdie. Jon Rahm couldn't get much going either. Justin Thomas posted an impressive number, but it wasn't enough.

Rai didn't wait around for someone else to win the tournament, or for them to hand it to him. He went out, hit the shots that each hole demanded, and earned the Wanamaker like a deserving champion.

“Golf is an amazing game. It teaches you so many things, and it teaches you so much humility and discipline and absolute hard work because nothing is ever given in this game no matter what level you're playing, no matter what course you're playing on.”

Fans know Rai for wearing two gloves and having iron headcovers. Now, they’ll know him as a major champion. What a performance from the 31-year-old.