Aaron Rai, number 44 in the world ranking, embraced the PGA Championshipthe second major of the year, and deprived Spain of completing its peculiar Grand Slam. Jon Rahm (68 strokes) finished second tied with Samlley at three strokes, in an effort that was in vain, but which vindicated the Barrika golfer as one of the greats of the moment, a condition that many had questioned despite his overwhelming dominance in LIV Golf in the last three seasons.
A card of 65 strokes led him to a stardom that he did not imagine this season, plagued by injuries, nor for his career. Just a couple of victories since the pandemic distributed between the DP World Tour (Abu Dhabi 2025) and the PGA Tour (Wyndham 2024). He won and kissed his wife, while the goldsmith, despite the fact that there were two matches left on the field, was already beginning to engrave the first two ‘aces’ of the winner’s name on the base of the cup. Rai, four birdies on the last nine holes, interrupted ten straight American victories in this major.
When Rahm took the first blow, on a day of sunshine and notable breeze, Aronimink only allowed Justin Thomas, lit up with five birdies from behind and Kitayama’s 63, as brilliant as it was anecdotal. The Englishman Rai, the one who plays with two gloves and protects his irons with covers because as a child his father, without a buoyant economy, taught him that you had to take care of your equipment, had also reached -5 thanks to an eagle. While at four under par, where Rahm started, the traffic jam was fabulous: eight players in that score and six, one behind. (Results)
Jon Rahm (31) on the last day of the PGA
The one from Barrika got it right the first time. Birdie on 1. And on to the second. Another birdie. He was already co-leader, with a pack of fabulous champions behind him. From both sides of the split this time. Justin Rose, Rory McIlroy, Ludvig Aberg and the ‘rebels’ Cameron Smith and Joaquín Niemann. It was a spoonful of glory, because on the next hole he went to the bunker and made the first bogey that would be followed by a second error on the 7th. It was a start again from the same distance that he had started, although with a change of protagonist in the lead. Smalley, who had a great time on the last day, had handed over control to the German Mathi Schmid, a golfer like the American, without victories in the professional field.
The Teuton, who sought to register his name in the Majors such as Langer and Kaymer, He had a Warholian moment to enjoy fame. Instead of 15 minutes it lasted three holes. Until he made a bogey at the moment when Rai, of Indian and Kenyan descent, began his definitive advent.
Rahm hit great shots off the tee, but then he didn’t let them close which did not convert his greatest purple. None of his opponents, except Justin Thomas who had coffees in the clubhouse in case there was a general collapse, had been seen in these. Rai, the first Englishman to win the PGA Championship since 1919, had only collected several nineteenth places.
The keys in the second round were the 13th hole, a par 4 that was reached in one, and the 16th, the last par 5.. The Brit made two birdies – he shot for eagle in the long stretch – and Jon did not bite on the first and holed the birdie to be second when everything was already ventilated. He had merit because he was the only one of those tested who lasted on Sunday. Especially McIlroy (69), who finished sixth, after visiting every corner of Aronimink, the course whose preparation has disappointed him.
Rahm’s last success came after the great shouting. Rai, who was touched by grace, holed a 24-meter putt on the 17th to reach nine under par, impossible for the rest. God save his figure, while the Grand Slam will have to wait another year. A piece that has been pursued for 47 years, when Seve with the British in 1979 started the enthusiasm for this game. David Puig, on par, finished eighteenth, his best performance so far in the majors.