Tournament Round-Up
Rai Delivers One of the Championship’s Great Sunday Charges
England’s Aaron Rai has captured the Wanamaker Trophy, firing a stunning final-round 65 to win the 108th PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. The 31-year-old became the first Englishman to win the PGA Championship since Jim Barnes in 1919, ending a 107-year wait with one of the most memorable Sunday charges the major has seen in years.
Heading into the final round, Rai sat two shots behind overnight leader Alex Smalley, tucked within a tightly bunched leaderboard that featured Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Scottie Scheffler, Justin Thomas and Xander Schauffele. Few predicted what was to follow. Rai birdied the opening hole to move within one of Smalley, before chaos unfolded ahead of him. The overnight leader double-bogeyed the sixth and bogeyed the eighth, handing the initiative to a chasing pack that included Matti Schmid, who briefly seized the lead with three birdies in five holes.
It was Rai who then delivered the defining moment of the week. Playing two groups behind the leaders, he struck a remarkable 40-foot eagle at the par-five ninth to propel himself back into contention, tied for second and one behind Schmid. From there, he was unstoppable. Back-to-back birdies at the 11th and 12th, another at the 13th, and then the most audacious putt of the championship, a breathtaking 70-foot bomb at the par-three 17th, gave him a three-shot lead that nobody could close.
He finished at nine under par, three clear of Jon Rahm and Alex Smalley who shared second place. Rory McIlroy ended the week tied seventh at four under, five shots back, while defending champion Scottie Scheffler finished at two under after a final-round 69.
“A week like this and an achievement like this certainly makes it feel all very much worthwhile. It is an absolute dream come true.” Aaron Rai, 2026 PGA Champion
Aronimink itself played a starring role all week. The Donald Ross-designed classic, hosting a major for the first time since Gary Player’s 1962 triumph, proved far trickier than many had anticipated. Pre-tournament talk of 20-under-par totals quickly dissolved as winds picked up and pin positions pushed even the world’s best to their limits.
Final Leaderboard
| 1st | Aaron Rai | -9 |
| T2 | Jon Rahm (ESP) | -6 |
| T2 | Alex Smalley (USA) | -6 |
| T4 | Matt Schmid (GER) | -5 |
| T4 | Justin Thomas (USA) | -5 |
| T7 | Rory McIlroy (NIR) | -4 |
| T7 | X. Schauffele (USA) | -4 |
| T7 | Cam Smith (AUS) | -4 |
| T10 | Kurt Kitayama (USA) | -3 |
The 19th Hole: Talking Points
McIlroy’s Candid Course Critique
Never one to hold back, Rory McIlroy caused a minor stir at Tuesday’s press conference when he declared that strategy off the tee at Aronimink was “pretty nonexistent,” essentially amounting to bashing driver down the fairway and figuring it out from there. Aronimink’s tree-thinning programme was his chief complaint. He may have lived to rue those words: on Sunday, he hit just 4 of 14 fairways and finished tied seventh, five shots off the winner.
McIlroy and the Fan Incident on 16
Whatever was said, it was enough to get someone ejected from the course. McIlroy appeared to have a heated exchange with a spectator following his third shot at the 16th hole during the final round. The moment was caught on camera and quickly circulated online. Officials acted swiftly, removing the individual from the grounds. McIlroy finished the hole and moved on, though the moment lingered in the headlines.
“Absurd” Pin Locations Infuriate the Field
Scheffler, the world No. 1 and defending champion, was uncharacteristically vocal after the weekend’s pin positions drew criticism from across the field. “Most of the pins today were, I mean, kind of absurd,” said the Texan. “This is the hardest set of pin locations that I have seen since I have been on Tour, and that includes U.S. Opens.” The course setup undoubtedly separated the contenders from the pretenders.
A Record for International Diversity
As Sunday’s final round teed off, golf history was quietly made: six different countries were represented among the top six players, the first time this had happened in the PGA Championship’s history. England’s Rai, Spain’s Rahm, America’s Smalley, Germany’s Schmid, Canada’s Nick Taylor and Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg all went into the day with a genuine chance of lifting the Wanamaker. It marked major championship golf at its global finest.
Kitayama’s Record-Tying 63 Goes Largely Unnoticed
In any other week, Kurt Kitayama’s barnstorming final-round 63, with seven birdies, tying the record for the lowest final round in major history, would have been the talk of the tournament. Instead it was merely a footnote in a chaotic, drama-filled Sunday. Such was the depth of competition at Aronimink that a historically low round still was not enough to win. Kitayama finished inside the top ten, his stunning card largely overshadowed by Rai’s heroics.
Upcoming Major Championships
With the PGA Championship concluded, three more major opportunities remain in 2026 and beyond. Whether you are planning to attend in person or looking to host clients in premium hospitality, the upcoming calendar is unmissable.
U.S. Open Championship | 18 to 21 June 2026
Venue: Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, Southampton, New York
One of America’s founding golf clubs returns to host its sixth U.S. Open. The windswept Long Island terrain and famously demanding rough make this the ultimate test of resilience and precision. With Scottie Scheffler chasing the career Grand Slam, and Aaron Rai now a first-time major champion looking to build on his reputation, the storylines are already compelling.
The Open Championship | 16 to 19 July 2026
Venue: Royal Birkdale Golf Club, Southport, England
The 154th Open Championship returns to the iconic Merseyside links for the 11th time. Royal Birkdale has produced some of the game’s most legendary moments and, in 2026, with the game’s great players in fine form, another classic chapter is certain to unfold. For British golf fans, this is the unmissable event of the summer.
Hospitality packages are available. For more information and to book, please visit: https://engagehospitality.co.uk/events/golf-the-open-championship-2026-royal-birkdale/
ICON Golf Days at The Grove | September 2026
If the drama of Aronimink has got you reaching for your clubs, there is no better way to channel that energy than at an ICON Golf Day. Brought to you by Engage Hospitality, two more events are scheduled at The Grove this September and places are already limited.
The Grove, set in 300 acres of stunning Hertfordshire countryside just 18 miles from London, is one of the finest championship venues in the country. It hosted a World Golf Championship event won by Tiger Woods in 2006 and has welcomed the likes of Barack Obama onto its famous fairways. In 2026, it once again provides the backdrop for an experience that goes far beyond the ordinary golf day.
Imagine 18 holes of championship golf with a difference: gourmet food and free-flowing drinks at every single hole, crafted by innovative chef Jimmy Garcia. Add an on-course DJ, the chance to play alongside a sports star or celebrity guest, competitions, prizes and an evening awards ceremony, and you have an event your clients will be talking about long after the final putt drops.
September 2026 Dates
- Wednesday 16 September 2026 | ICON Golf Day at The Grove
- Thursday 17 September 2026 | ICON Golf Day at The Grove
What to Expect
- 18 holes on a championship course where Tiger Woods and Barack Obama have played
- Gourmet food and drinks at every hole, designed by chef Jimmy Garcia
- On-course DJ hole for live entertainment during your round
- Sports celebrity and icon guests joining on the day
- Four-ball match format with exclusive use of the clubhouse, driving range and putting green
- Competitions and prizes throughout, including the chance to win a car at the prize hole
- Optional overnight stay to make the most of The Grove’s five-star facilities
- Evening awards ceremony to round off the day
To register your interest or book your places, visit: engagehospitality.co.uk/events/icon-golf-days
