Aaron Rai facts for kids

Aaron Rai is an English professional golfer, born on March 3, 1995. He plays on the biggest golf tours in the world, the PGA Tour and the European Tour. Aaron made history by winning a major championship, the 2026 PGA Championship. This is one of the most important tournaments in golf!

Aaron achieved a special "three-win promotion" on the Challenge Tour in 2017. This helped him move up to the European Tour. He won his first European Tour event in 2018. Later, he joined the PGA Tour in the United States. In 2024, Aaron won his first PGA Tour title at the Wyndham Championship.

Meet Aaron Rai: A Golf Star

Aaron's Early Life and Golf Start

Aaron Rai was born in Wolverhampton, England. His parents, Amrik Singh and Dalvir Shukla, have roots in India. His father was born in England, and his mother moved to England from Kenya when she was a teenager. Aaron grew up with two older sisters and one older brother. He went to Wolverhampton Grammar School.

Aaron started playing golf when he was just four years old. It happened by accident! His brother's hockey stick hit him, so his mom bought him safe plastic golf clubs. He loved Formula 1 racing as a child. He even wore Ferrari clothes to junior golf events. Aaron practiced his golf at the Three Hammers Golf Complex from a young age. He joined Patshull Park when he was five.

Becoming a Professional Golfer

Aaron Rai became a professional golfer in 2012. This means he started playing golf for a living. In 2014 and 2015, he played on the PGA EuroPro Tour. He won the Glenfarclas Open in 2015 after a playoff. This win helped him move up to the Challenge Tour for 2016.

Rising Through the Ranks: Challenge and European Tours

In 2016, Aaron played well on the Challenge Tour. He almost made it to the European Tour. But in 2017, he had an amazing year! He won three tournaments on the Challenge Tour. In March, he won the Barclays Kenya Open. His mother, who was born in Kenya, was there to celebrate with him. It was her first visit back since 1970.

Aaron won his second event in May, the Andalucía Costa del Sol Match Play 9. He beat an Irish golfer named Gavin Moynihan. His third win came in July at the Le Vaudreuil Golf Challenge. Winning three times quickly earned him a spot on the European Tour.

On the European Tour, Aaron continued to shine. He won the Honma Hong Kong Open in 2018. This was the first event of the 2019 season. He also won the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open in 2020. He beat fellow English golfer Tommy Fleetwood in a sudden-death playoff. This victory helped him enter the world's top 100 golfers. In November 2025, Aaron won the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, again defeating Tommy Fleetwood in a playoff.

Conquering the PGA Tour and Major Wins

In 2021, Aaron played in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals. This was his chance to earn a spot on the PGA Tour in the United States. He played well enough to secure his PGA Tour card for the 2021–22 season.

Aaron had a very successful 2024 season. He won his first PGA Tour title at the Wyndham Championship. He also had five other top-10 finishes. He even qualified for the Tour Championship, a big event for the best golfers.

In 2026, Aaron won the Masters Tournament Par 3 Contest. This is a fun event held before the main Masters Tournament. Then, on May 17, 2026, Aaron Rai achieved his biggest dream. He won the 2026 PGA Championship! He finished with a score of 9 shots under par. He made a fantastic 69-foot putt on the 17th green in his final round. Aaron became the first English golfer to win the PGA Championship since 1919. It was an incredible victory!

Life Off the Golf Course

Aaron Rai lives in Jacksonville, Florida, in the United States. He practices his golf game at the nearby TPC at Sawgrass course.

He is married to Gaurika Bishnoi. She is also a professional golfer from India.

Aaron's Unique Golf Gear

Aaron is known for some interesting habits on the golf course. Most golfers wear only one glove on their non-dominant hand. But Aaron wears two gloves! He started doing this when he was eight years old.

He is also one of the only players who uses covers for his irons. He says his father taught him to take good care of his equipment. Aaron also uses special "castle tees" and an older TaylorMade M6 driver. He even used this seven-year-old driver to win the 2026 PGA Championship!

Major Championships

Aaron Rai has won one major championship. This is a very important achievement in golf.

Wins (1)

Year	Championship	54 holes	Winning score	Margin	Runners-up
2026	PGA Championship	2 shot deficit	−9 (70-69-67-65=271)	3 strokes	Jon Rahm, Alex Smalley

Team Appearances

Aaron has also represented his country in team events.

• Team Cup (representing Great Britain and Ireland): 2025 (winners)

See also

• 2017 Challenge Tour graduates
• 2021 Korn Ferry Tour Finals graduates
• List of golfers to achieve a three-win promotion from the Challenge Tour