Pennsylvania: Aaron Rai, the 2025 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship winner, has claimed the second Major of the DP World Tour season on the Race to Dubai, lifting the Wanamaker Trophy at the 108th PGA Championship in Pennsylvania in the early hours of Monday morning. The Englishman's victory came against a formidable field of the world's elite golfers, all vying for spots at the season-ending Race to Dubai finals in Abu Dhabi and Dubai this November.
According to Emirates News Agency, Rai finished nine under par at Aronimink Golf Club, securing a prize of US$3.69 million (around AED13.5 million) - marking his first Major and a fourth career title on the DP World Tour. Rai, who has been dealing with back and neck issues earlier in the year, expressed his surprise and satisfaction, stating, "It's been a frustrating year in some ways, so to be standing here is well beyond what I expected."
He further commented on his recent performance, "I think the key this year has been the consistency over the last few weeks in practice. The body has been in a really good place. I genuinely enjoyed the golf course this week and managed to put four solid rounds together. It feels like a long journey. Everyone playing this week has a great story to tell."
Rai's triumph significantly boosts his standing, elevating him 166 places on the Race to Dubai Rankings. He now holds the fifth position with 1,717 points. Meanwhile, Spain's Jon Rahm, the 2019 Race to Dubai champion, shared second place at six under par with American Alex Smalley, moving to 16th on the standings with 870 points.
The PGA Championship marked the 19th event of the season. The Race to Dubai will encompass at least 42 tournaments across 25 countries before concluding in the UAE. The top 70 will compete in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links from 5th to 8th November 2026, while the top 50 will wrap up the season at the DP World Tour Championship, Jumeirah Golf Estates, from 12th to 15th November 2026.