PGA Championship result: Aaron Rai beats Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy to historic triumph
Live updates from the final round of the 2026 PGA Championship as Rory McIlroy targets back-to-back major wins
England’s Aaron Rai clinched his first major championship with a stunning victory at the US PGA Championship. The 31-year-old emerged from a chasing pack littered with major champions at Aronimink Golf Club to become the first English winner of the event in over a century.
Rai, whose previous best finish at a major was 19th, shot a sublime five-under 65 as he stormed to finish three shots clear of the field and is just the fifth European to win the US PGA. The world No.44 from Wolverhampton – with three DP World Tour victories and a single PGA Tour win to his name – landed the $3.69million (£2.76million) prize and clinched the Wanamaker Trophy.
Three players held the lead during the final round of the championship as the congested leaderboard resulted in a thrilling final day. But Rai evoked Philadelphia’s Rocky-style underdog spirit to be the last known survivor in the greatest moment of his career.
Recap his victory with Express Sport below...
KEY EVENTS
Rai PGA Championship triumph confirmed
Aaron Rai has just lifted the Wanamaker Trophy at Aronimink with the crowd cheering loudly after his sensational displays over the last few days!
Rai is the PGA Championship winner
Alex Smalley's failed birdie attempt on the 17th has confirmed Aaron Rai as the 2026 PGA Championship winner!
Rai all but there
Aaron Rai has done all he can after claiming a par on the 18th to finish at -9.
Jon Rahm and Matti Schmid are still out there but it would take something truly special to stop the Englishman from winning the PGA Championship
Just before Rai's final putt, Ludvig Aberg goes to -5.
Rahm makes late challenge as McIlroy's round over
Jon Rahm is now three shots away from Aaron Rai with two holes to play.
It is likely to little too late from the Spaniard however, with Rory McIlroy's final round also over as he ends on -4
Rai birdies the 17th
That is extraordinary from Aaron Rai....
He is on the opposite side of the green and yet he still sinks it for a birdie with ease. His lead is now four shots and Rai lets out a few small fist bumps.
He has been sensational today!
Rai's lead to three shots
A bogey on the 15th from Matti Schmid has taken him down to -5 with Aaron Rai now firmly on the cusp of greatness.
He has just hit a lovely drive on the 17th and barring a monumental collapse, the Wanamaker Trophy looks to be his!
Nerves of steel from Rai as McIlroy falters
You would not think that Aaron Rai is on the cusp of his first major with the way he is playing.
The Englishman has just expertly found the green on the 16th with his second shot and was able to claim another birdie to go -8.
Just a little further ahead, Rory McIlroy's chances of winning have likely gone after he missed a birdie putt on the 17th.
Rai still on top
Another par for Aaron Rai and he leads with just three holes to play.
Having been part of the last group to tee off, Matti Schmid is a few holes behind and chasing which will likely mean a nervy wait for the Englishman in the club house.
Rose's round over as Schmid pulls one back
Justin Rose has just putted on 18 to finish at -3 after shooting 69.
A little bit further back at Aronimink, Matthias Schmid has just pulled one back to go -6.
McIlroy misses as Rai continues to lead
Aaron Rai has just putted a nice straightforward par on the 14th to keep his two-shot lead.
Rory McIlroy very nearly joined those on -5 but his long put was inches away from dropping on the 15th.
Jon Rahm has also just missed a birdie putt to close the gap on Rai and we have got a real tense end to the PGA Championship.
Special from Aaron Rai
Just as Rory McIlroy pulls a shot back, Aaron Rai goes up to -7 with a sensational birdie on the 13th.
That was despite going straight into a bunker off the tee. This is some back nine performance so far from Rai.
McIlroy three shots off lead
A bogey for Rory McIlroy at the 13th has seen him go down to three shots off the new leader Aaron Rai.
However, he has just found the bunker on 13 and faces a difficult shot onto the green
A change at the top
And just like that it is Aaron Rai that leads with Matthias Schmid bogeying the tenth.
He is now at -5 with Nick Thomas, who has finished his round, Jon Rahm and Camerong Smith.
Rory McIlroy is also in some real trouble on the 12th...
Rai into co-lead
Aaron Rai has really come from nowhere to co-lead with Matthias Schmid.
However, he could very soon be up there alone with the leader in trouble on 10th.
Some changes at the top
Not much movement in the leaderboard over the last few holes with Lucas Aberg dropping down to -4 the only major change.
However, Matthias Schmid has just knocked in a birdie on the fifth to lead with a double bogey for Alex Smalley seeing him drop down significantly
-5 the target for chasing pack
Justin Thomas has set the target for those still out at Aronimink with a 65 on his final round to go -5.
Alex Smalley is still above that while Jon Rahm, Lucas Aberg, Cameron Smith and Aaron Rai are one behind.
Rahm heads up to co-lead
Another birdie from Jon Rahm has taken him up to -6 and level with Alex Smalley.
Rory McIlroy had a chance to go within one of them on the third but he missed a lengthy birdie putt.
The final two players get going
Alex Smalley and Matthias Schmid have just tee'd off on the first and now every player that can win the PGA Championship is underway!
As things stand, Schmid, Cameron Smith, Nick Taylor, Joaquin Niemann and Rory McIlroy are all -4.
Justin Thomas, Lucas Aberg, Aaron Rai and Jon Rahm have closed the gap on Smalley to one shot after hitting birdies.
McIlroy on the charge
Rory McIlroy has just sunk a birdie at the second to go -3!
That is a big putt by the Northern Irishman and it puts some pressure on those around him in the standings. He's now priced at 3/1 to win the tournament with BetGoodwin.
It has also been a strong start for Jon Rahm.
Two stars break into top spots
Justin Thomas and Cameron Smith have both thus far enjoyed excellent final day rounds to break into the top 10.
The latter has hit a number of birdies to go while Thomas is -4, which has seen him join a number of players two shots off leader Alex Smalley.
Nick Taylor and Jon Rahm have also just teed off.
McIlroy tees off with Schauffele
Rory McIlroy's final round at the PGA Championship is underway!
His first drive of the day has landed in the rough but he will certainly fancy his chances of going under par again.
Xander Schauffele, who won this event two years ago, has also missed the fairway but he is on the other side of the rough.
Scheffler concludes front nine
A mixed front nine for Scottie Scheffler sees him four shots off the lead!
He will need to hit in the range of 30 to have a chance of competing for the top spots with those leading the way all set to tee off over the next 35 minutes.
Latest updates as Rose tees off
Jordan Spieth, Cam Young and Harris English have all just had some tough holes with the latter missing a birdie to move within two shots of the lead.
Young has also just missed a straightforward put and thus hit another bogey to drop back down to level par.
He is now level with Spieth, who has played some good golf this weekend but can't quite break into that top group.
Justin Rose, who starts the day at -1, will be looking to do exactly that over the coming hours and he has just driven off the first to start his final round!
McIlroy captured at Aronimink
Sky Sports cameras have recently captured Rory McIlroy arriving to the Aronimink Golf Club and heading to the driving range.
At three shots off the lead and in fine form, many are expected him to go all the way and win the PGA Championship.
If he does, the career Grand Slam in one year is firmly on....
Scheffler shoots a birdie
A lovely long put from Scottie Scheffler takes him to -2 thru two.
He has also just hit a delightful tee shot on the third and that is the perfect start for him given the deficit he needs to try and overturn!
Scheffler kicks off with a par
Scottie Scheffler has started his final round with a par on the 1st hole!
That has been the theme of the last few days for the world No1 at Aronimink as he is yet to shoot under or over par on that hole.
The other final round tee times to know
Here are the other tee times to make note of for the final round of the PGA Championship:
1:25 p.m (6:25pm BST): Justin Rose, Joaquin Niemann
1:35 p.m (6:35pm BST) : Kristoffer Reitan, Chris Kirk
1:55 p.m (6:55pm BST) : Patrick Reed, Maverick McNealy
2:05 p.m (7:05pm BST) : Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele
2:15 p.m (7:15pm BST) : Aaron Rai, Ludvig Åberg
2:25 p.m (7:25pm BST) : Nick Taylor, Jon Rahm
2:35 p.m (7:35pm BST) : Alex Smalley, Matti Schmid
When does McIlroy tee off?
Rory McIlroy is part of the fourth last pair on the final round of the PGA Championship and will thus tee off in just under two hours at 2:05pm (7:05pm BST).
The 37-year-old shot a 67 and 66 on Friday and Saturday, respectively, to bring himself back into contention after a disastrous first round.
How things stand...
Alex Smalley is the current leader in the PGA Championship and he has a two-shot lead over the chasing pack.
Ludvig Aberg, Jon Rahm, Nick Taylor, Aaron Rai and Matthias Schmid are all tied at T2 with Rory McIlroy alongside Xander Schauffele, Patrick Reed and Maverick McNealy at -3.
2025 winner Scottie Scheffler has just teed off for his final round and is currently sat at one-under par and thus is in need of quite a performance.
Good evening
Hello and welcome to live coverage of the PGA Championship final round!
For all the updates from the Aronimink Golf Club, stay right here for the next few hours...
