After a 107-year wait, England has finally won a US PGA Championship again. In the city of Rocky Balboa, rank outsider Aaron Rai slugged all of the heavyweights on to the canvas with two birdies in his last three holes and then celebrated a remarkable success for him, his country and his continent.
On perhaps the most stacked leaderboard of all time, the unassuming 31-year-old beat his nearest pursuers Jon Rahm and Alex Smalley by three shots. Rory McIlroy was in a tie for seventh, five behind.
Jim Barnes, the last English winner of this major in 1919 now has a compatriot alongside him on the honours board. For all of those blue-and-gold greats of the past, Europe has never won the first two majors of the season before.
Rai defied odds of 250-1 here at Aronimink with a five-under 65 that turned what was supposed to be “Stampede Sunday” into a procession. What a story this is. Rai is a lovely character and, in some ways, an unusual pro, despite being very reserved.
For grip reasons, Rai wears two gloves and is the only player on the PGA Tour or the DP World Tour to use iron covers. Why? Because of his father, Amrik.
“After practice, he would always clean the clubs with a safety pin and baby oil,” Rai said. “From doing that, he thought having iron covers would prevent any scratching or wearing. That’s something I’ve respected ever since.
“Although I can get another set of irons for free now, using iron covers is a reminder of where I’ve come from and what I have access to.”
This individual is clearly an inspiration, as he proved with this extraordinary 65 to post a nine-under total after four rounds. It was supposed to be a sprint. By the end he was akin to an easy marathon winner striding out.
Going out, Smalley had a two-shot lead but he was out of the equation because of self-inflicted mistakes on the front nine, and there were 42 players within four shots. It would take someone with extreme nerve and talent to come through.
The names on the dry lips and the throat roars of the Philly fans assembled in thrall were Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm and other superstars such as world No 1 Scottie Scheffler, Justin Rose, Brooks Koepka, Xander Schauffele or Patrick Reed. Nobody had considered Rai when making their tips for this sprint to the line.
He came in ranked at 44th in the world and had, somewhat bizarrely, not even qualified for the previous week’s PGA Tour signature event at Quail Hollow. But Rai has a significant CV, rising as high as 20th in the world and has won the Scottish Open on the DP World Tour and the Wyndham Classic on the PGA Tour. He is rated as extremely unlucky not to have yet played in the Ryder Cup and Europe captain Luke Donald is an admirer.
Rai is meticulous, like Donald, and unassuming, like Donald, and can putt, but not on the level of Donald. But unlike Donald, a former world No 1, he is now a major champion and is surely almost booked in to make his Europe debut in Co. Limerick next year.
On this of all leaderboards, this took bottle as well as opportunism and focus. Rahm began the cavalry charge looking the likely thoroughbred to burst through as he birdied the first two holes.
Smalley was quickly enveloped as he struggled in the spotlight, and with McIlroy also picking up shots for a while the mood was that the cream was rising. But World No 1 Scheffler had failed to make ground, posting a 69, for a two-under finish.
Alarm bells should not be sounded. Scheffler putted terribly and will be the favourite when he arrives at next month’s US Open as he tries to emulate McIlroy’s feat last year by becoming the seventh player in history to win the career grand slam.
He was long gone by the time Rai was on his victory charge, picking up four shots in five holes from the ninth. He began at four-under, two off Smalley’s lead, but appeared to be fading when he played the first eight holes in one-over.
And then he holed a 40-footer on the par-five ninth to trigger the almighty surge.
It became very serious when Rai hit it to four feet on the 11th – because that does not happen in the midst of a trophy battle on the brutal par four.
Rai duly birdied the driveable 13th – courtesy of a lovely bunker shot – and was utterly impervious as he went through the 14th and 15th with pars and then did exactly what a front-runner should on the par-five 16th by hitting the green in two and making his birdie from there.
The 17th was the killer blow. Rocky would have been proud of the directness of the uppercut to his rivals. He holed it from 68 feet. That was it. “The Fields of Aaron Rai” may now need a rejig.
“To be here is outside my wildest imagination,” Rai said. “It is a dream come true.”
He is also the first golfer of Indian heritage to win a male major. “You won’t find one person on property who’s not happy for him,” McIlroy said.
Englishmen to win the US PGA Championship
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1916:
Jim Barnes
1919: Jim Barnes
2026: Aaron Rai
Here’s the lovely story about why he uses head covers for his irons
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His family wasn’t made of money and his Dad sacrificed a lot to buy him a set of clubs, so head covers were used to protect them. Rai has continued to use head covers for his irons as his way of honouring the sacrifices his family made and remembering to appreciate what he has.
With that in mind, I agree with all of this...
The story behind Aaron Rai's iron headcovers has been well trafficked, but they are so apt after years of seeing golfers exhibiting greed, entitlement and a complete loss of perspective.
— Eamon Lynch (@eamonlynch) May 17, 2026
This is a cool stat...
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...and an impressive list to join.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) May 17, 2026Since 1st Masters in 1934, major champions who shot a better score each day that week
1951 Ben Hogan, U.S. Open
1953 Ben Hogan, The Open
1959 Gary Player, The Open
1986 Jack Nicklaus, Masters
1998 Mark O'Meara, Masters
2026 Aaron Rai, PGA
Aaron Rai lifts the Wanamaker Trophy
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On his form coming into the tournament...
“It’s been a frustrating season, so to be here [as champion] is beyond my wildest imagination. I have just been practising a lot and enjoyed the course and held the rounds together as week went on.”
On the monster putt at 17...
“I definitely wasn’t trying hole that putt. The shadow of the pin gave me a great line for the final 10 feet, but it was so long I was just trying to get a good speed. It was amazing to see it go in.”
It’s presentation time!
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These presentations can be a bit OTT, and drag on a bit. But as if to make a bad thing worse, Gary Player is there. He’ll doubtless be telling Aaron Rai about his two US PGA Championships and seven other majors, while commenting about the number of press ups he can do...
Agree with this
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Rai is a deserved major champion and has the game to win another.
He's six-under for the last nine holes. This major will get mocked in years to come, we all know it, but if you swap out Rai for Scheffler it becomes one of the great closing performances of this generation. It does not get better.
— Ben Coley (@BenColeyGolf) May 17, 2026
His final 10 holes: 3-4-3-4-3-3-4-4-2-4, an all-time great closing stretch.
Europe reign supreme
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Since the first Masters in 1934, there has never been a year where European players won the first two majors of a season.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) May 17, 2026
Cool, calm, calculated
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Rai started the round with three bogeys in his opening eight holes. From there he fired in an eagle and four birdies for a five under 65. He looked unflappable and he won it so well, taking the course apart with precision. He took a three wood at the 15th, instead of driver like most of his rivals, and that summed the brilliant round up.
Rai pars the last
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And is in the clubhouse at nine under. It looks as though England has a new major champion.
The only men who can stop him are Rahm (six under) and Schmid (five under) and that, I am going to call it, is not going to happen.
Rai’s approach at the last is fired right at the pin...
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...and will leave him with a 15-footer for a birdie to move to 10 under and almost certainly win the year’s second major.
He’s been brilliant today, all weekend in fact, plotting his way round this course that has proved too tough for some of the best in the world. It would be fitting his he was to get to double figures.
The lead is now four...
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...as Schmid has bogeyed the 15th.
Rai is going to be the new US PGA champion. And the adrenaline is clearly flowing as he monsters a drive down the 18th - it, as with most of his other tee shots, finds the fairway.
The Englishman has taken this tournament by the scruff of the neck at just the right time when no one was making a move.
Aaron Rai take a bow
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His tee shot at the par-three 17th is simple and safe. He didn’t need to go flag hunting and he fired it to the heart of the green. That left him with a 68-footer for a very unlikely birdie. Rai, however, didn’t think it was unlikely as he proceeded to sink it from waaaaaaaay downtown to move to nine under. It’s the second longest putt of the week and it’s come at the 71st hole. What a way to all but put both hands on the Wanamaker Trophy.
Rai moves to eight under
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He cannot eagle the 16th but it’s the easiest of tap ins for birdie. He’s back to two clear and knows that three good swings off the tee should win him his first major.
Rahm’s drive at the 16th finds the rough
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And he’ll find it tough, if not impossible, to make the green and that illustrates why Rai is leading and the ‘bigger’ names are not. The Englishman has found the fairway and they, too many times, have not.
Rai threads the needle at 16
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It’s the shot of his life and means he’s on the green at the par five in two, 16 feet from the hole. He’ll have one putt to move to nine under and two to get to eight under.
Don’t want to tempt fate but...I think he’s going to do it.
Here’s a stat
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That makes his ‘failure’ on the par fives this week look even more stark.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) May 17, 2026Rory McIlroy finishes the week playing the par 5s at Aronimink in even par.
In his 6 major wins, he's a combined 51-under on the par 5s.
McIlroy walks off the 16th looking forlorn
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That because on the tee he would have been thinking about eagle (he needed one), and he could only get a par. He stays at four under with two to play.
He’s level par for the par fives this week, and that partly explains why he won’t win this. He usually dismantles the long holes, but he’s been out of position off the tee too much this week.
Rory’s race is run
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His third at the par-five 16th his chipped into the bunker and he looks annoyed. Not only because of the slight mess he’s making of a hole he needed at least a birdie from, but it seems a fan has been overzealous with some ‘banter’ and it looks as though the person will be ejected.
Woe for Rory
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Having found the right rough with his drive, he then chops his second to more rough short of the green. He has been poor on the par fives this week, out of position off the tee and it’s costing him here at the 16th.
Two fine shots from Rai
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At the par-four 15th. He found the fairway with the drive (something he’s been very good at this weekend) and his approach from 234 is just short of the green. He should town putt easily from there.
He is, as I keep writing, looking unflappable.
McIlroy’s drive at the 16th...
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...finds the right rough. It’s next to impossible to find the green from there. He’s not been at the races with the par fives this week and it looks as though that will cost him.
Nearly back-to-back birdies for Rory
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His birdie putt at the 15th is one revolution from dropping. That would have moved him to five under...
He moves to the par-five 16th surely thinking about eagle...if he finds the fairway it will be no more than an eight iron in.
Rai moves to seven under
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Someone needed to make a move and it’s Rai who’s done just that.
The Englishman drove into the front right bunker at the driveable par-four 13th, and got it up and down from there. He’s got a two-shot lead and looks unflappable at the moment.
Bouncebackability
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I borrow Iain Dowie’s brilliant contribution to the English language as Rory can indeed make birdie at the 14th. The 23-footer never flirted with staying above ground and McIlroy is back to four under and, once again, in with a chance (slim) of victory.
Rory hits his tee shot at par-three 14th...
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...pin high. Can he get back that dropped shot immediately?
He needs to...
Here’s a stat
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Eighty-three players made the cut and Rory is 75th in driving accuracy of those this weekend...that tells the story of why he will, most probably, not win.
And Rory is back to three under
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He cannot drain the long par putt and, I think, his hopes of victory have gone. He’s three off the lead with tricky holes that are not giving up many birdies to come.
Solid par for Rai at 12
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The Englishman stays at six under, still sole leader.
Meanwhile, McIlroy is staring a bogey in the face at the 13th. His wayward drive forced him to chip out into the rough with his second. His third left him with a long 37-footer for par...
Think Cam Smith’s race is run
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He’s just bogeyed the 17th and is back to four under. He had looked like poise and calm personified today, but, at the vital moment, he makes an error and it’s a three putt, of all things (he’s probably the best putter in the field)...
Rai is now sole leader
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That’s thanks to Schmid’s bogey at the 10th. The trouble started when he found the left rough off the tee and he left himself devilishly tough up and down for par from 62 yards which he was unable to pull off. He’s back to five under.
Poor drive from McIlroy at the 13th
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It looks as though he lost his grip and the ball finds the thick rough on the right at the short par four. He’ll find it tough to find the green from there. Is his race running out of steam?
Is it to be Rai?
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The Englishman has just birdied the 11th, making no mistake with the four-foot putt, and he’s now at six under, co-leader with Schmid. He’s looked more than solid the past two rounds, has won big tournaments on the DP World Tour (Abu Dhabi being one of them) and looks the most likely man from the pack to stretch away...still, plenty more twists and turns to come, I reckon.
Still waiting for...
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...Someone to make a move. The narrative right now is exactly as it was 24 hours ago - who, if anyone, will break from the considerably large pack?
Rai fires in a peach of an approach at the 11th
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He’ll have a six footer to move to six under and be co-leader.
Schmid pars the ninth
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To stay at six under, still sole leader. As with so much of the past 24 hours it’s steady as she goes at the top of the leaderboard. And the longer this goes on the more Justin Thomas, in the clubhouse at five under, will be thinking he’s got a good chance of at least being in a play off.
Cam Smith pars the 15th
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It’s a blemish-free round and he looks the calmest and coolest customer out there at the moment.
McIlroy pars the 10th
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His approach from the rough left him with a 37-foot putt for birdie, but he had to be content with a two-putt par. He stays at four under. His last birdie came at the second - it’s been steady as you go since, with pars, but, as I wrote some 15 minutes ago, he could do with making a move.
Not least because Rahm has birdied the ninth to move back to five under.
It’s another logjam at the top of the leaderboard.
Rai flying high!
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That’s because he’s eagled the ninth. His approach from 279 yards left him with a 39-footer for the eagle and the Englishman drained the putt from downtown. He had bogeyed the sixth and eighth but he is now back to one off the lead.
McIlroy’s drive finds the left rough at the par-four 10th
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He could do with making a move soon...
It was a big par five for Rory and...
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...it’s a par...he had to make a birdie there after a 379-yard drive. He misses a breaking 10-footer and he looks miffed. He’s still two back but that is, mentally at least, a shot dropped.
If Schmid is feeling nervous he’s not showing it
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The world 97 safely two putts at the seventh to stay sole leader on six under.
Big hole coming up for Rory
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It’s the par-five ninth and, here’s a shocking stat, he’s level par for the par fives this week (there are two of them). That needs to improve today, and his drive is imperious long, and finding the short grass. McIlory is two back of Schmid on four under.
Scheffler’s race is run
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The world No 1 walks off the 18th green on two under. His putter never got going and that, as much as anything, tells you why he didn’t contend this week.
Scottie Scheffler finishes the week with 125 putts, 2 shy of his most ever in a major championship.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) May 17, 2026
And Schmid is now sole leader
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That’s because hi splaying partner, and third round leader, Alex Smalley has doubled the sixth. His drive found the rough and he made it just short of the green in three where he thinned his chip long. I don’t think that’s nerves, he was bound to have a bad hole today, it’s now all about how he responds because, as I keep saying, anyone within three or so is in with a good chance of victory.
Matti Schmid is new co-leader
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The German has added a birdie at the sixth to go with the ones he fired in at two and four.
Rai scrambles a great par
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He stays at four under thanks to some army golf at the seventh.
The way this is going Justin Thomas, currently putting his feet up in the clubhouse, will be very happy on five under.
As I typed that Rahm was chopping out the the thickest, deepest rough on the course (at the seventh). He’s looking at a bogey, and will probably drop back to four under.
Suddenly, golfers are going backwards...
Anyone else think this is a waiting game?
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Waiting for someone to make a move?
As it stands it wouldn’t be a shock to have a five/six-man play off...
Some boffins have done a, doubtless extremely tricky, calculation requiring the best computer in the world and concluded there is a 25 per cent chance of a play off. If one does happen it will be over three holes.
McIlroy parred the seventh
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His tee shot at the par-three eighth (playing 216 yards today) finds the heart of the green. It’s the second-most difficult hole this week and so a two-putt par for Rory could be a shot against the field.
Harrington ends on one under
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He’s 54 but there’s life in the old (ish) dog yet. The former winner of the Wanamaker Trophy birdies the last to post a one under round.
Rose birdies the ninth
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We haven’t seen much of him, but he’s back to within three on three under. His front nine was one under (two birdies and a bogey as the par-three eighth) and he’s not out of the conversation.
No one is getting out of sight
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The lead is still six under and the bunching, for want of a much better word, is, if anything increasing.
Aberg does not die wondering at the sixth
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He gives his birdie putt a good whack sending it a good seven feet past the hole. That would have sent him to six under and the co leader. He’ll now have a tricky par save.
Meanwhile, Matti Schmid has recovered from a poor start (he bogeyed the the first) with two birdies in three holes. He’s now at five under.
Cam Smith is at five under
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A great par save (thanks to two great putts, the Australian’s forte) means he is very much ready to pounce. He a good few holes ahead of the McIlroys, Rahms and Smalleys and could well be the one to post a tricky clubhouse target.
Rory is four under on the seventh tee
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His drive leaves him with a little pitch at the par-four 438-yarder. However, it’s a back-left pin so not as simple as some chips.
Three pars in a row for Smalley
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The latest par comes courtesy of a 26-footer which will, doubtless, feel like a birdie. Those par saves are so crucial. The American is showing no signs of wilting under the pressure. Smalley stays at six under, the sole leader.
Clubhouse leader is...
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....Justin Thomas. The American drains a 16-foot putt at the last for a par to finish on five under. That’s the target, and while you suspect the winning score will be lower, you never know...
Here’s a stat to keep the minds of McIlroy, Rahm and more focused...
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Since the first Masters in 1934, there has never been a year where European players won the first two majors of a season.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) May 17, 2026
Speaking of topsy turvy...
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Aaron Rai, having bogeyed the third has birdied the fourth to get back to five under.
Rahm back to five under
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The Spaniard bogeys the third. That’s down to a wayward approach that finds the right greenside bunker. He was unable to get up and down and Smalley is, once again, sole leader.
Did I say this was going to be a topsy-turvey day?
Eight under to win it?
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That’s a number David Howell on Sky commentary reckons you need to be on in the clubhouse to stay interested. The wind isn’t as strong as previous days, but on the last day of a major who knows...
Rory remains on four under
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After pars at the third and fourth.
Meanwhile, Smalley is also on the par train, a delightful, delicate chip at the second allowing him a tap in for par. He stays at six under, alongside Rahm.
I am feeling a bit Brian Moore...
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When I write that I mean the former footballer commentator not Telegraph Sport’s rugby columnist. And I am referring to ITV’s man behind the mic’s famous phrase from the 1989 title decider between Liverpool and Arsenal, when Mickey Thomas was through on goal before scoring the title-winning goal...
‘It’s up for grabs now!’
It really is, there are still as many as 20 who can feasibly win this...
One of those is Scheffler who has just birdied the 13th to move to three under. You suspect he’ll need at lead three more to have a chance.
Rahm joins Smalley on six under
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The Spaniard has opened with a birdie-birdie start and is now co-leader. That’s the move he would have been hoping for and is he to become the first Spaniard to win this tournament?
In the blink of an eye...
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Two men have joined Rai and Rahmat five under. They are Justin Thomas and Ludvig Aberg. The former’s birdie came at the 16th (he’ll now surely have a go at the pin at the par-three 17th) and the latter’s at the second.
Opening birdie for Rahm
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The Spaniard joins Rai at five under. As with yesterday, this leaderboard is packed...it’s getting hard to follow, but follow I will...basically, anyone within four right now is in with a shout (which is over 20 golfers).
Here comes the leader
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Smalley’s lead has been cut to one, but his drive finds the fairway. Anyone expecting him to fall prey to the pressure may well be disappointed. At university his coach at Duke would regularly put him up against the toughest player, he beat Scheffler 5&4 during this period, and he has two top 10s in the past three weeks.
Rory moves to four under
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That’s thanks to a birdie at the second. His drive left him 62 yards to the pin and his chip meant all he had to do was sink a five-foot putt which he did with ease.
The Masters champion is two back of Smalley, and like many others (Cam Smith, Jon Rahm, Ludvig Aberg, Aaron Rai and Justin Thomas, to name only five) is smelling blood.
Cam Smith back where he belongs
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Great to see Cam Smith up there and contending in a major again. The Australian was so impressive in 2022, when he won the Open and the Players. But then he went to LIV and inevitably the experts insisted that switch precipitated his downfall.
However his slump has been over-pronounced and the problem has looked technical. Since starting with Claude Harmon, son of Butch, a few weeks ago it seems as though his rhythm is clicking once more. A tenacious competitor with a brilliant short game, Smith is fun to watch and a return to the upper echelons would be most welcome.
Birdie for Rai at the first!
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The Englishman played a perfect opening hole - drive found the fairway 113 yards out, the approach was stiffed to four feet and he made no mistake with the putter.
He’s now at five under and one back of Smalley. He’s won two Rolex events (the biggest tournaments) on the DP World Tour and beaten Tommy Fleetwood in play offs so he definitely has what it takes to win today.
Jon Rahm’s final round is under way
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The Spaniard is looking to become the first Spaniard to win this and his drive finds the fairway. He’s two back of Smalley and of the big names is the one closest to pouncing on the American.
Rose misses chance to move to four under
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The 10-footer comes agonisingly an inch short, but he’s one under through his opening four holes and lurking with intent.
Another man moves into contention*
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It’s Justin Thomas who has fired two birdies on the back nine and the American is four under for the tournament, two back of Smalley. That’s eight on that number at the moment and this is anyone’s tournament...
*will be writing this a lot over the next few hours
Par for Rory at the first
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No dramas with the up and down as the Master champion stays at three under. Playing partner Schauffele pars as well and also stays at three under.
Meanwhile, Aaron Rai’s round is under way, the Englishman is on four under and his drive at the first finds the fairway.
Scottie’s putter has been cold
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Cold as in Antarctic cold, go outside and you’ll freeze to death in seconds cold...another illustration of this comes at the 10th when he has a 10-footer for birdie (to move to three under). But it’s a poor, poor (yes, second poor is needed...) putt that is short and wide. He stays at two under and if he is to put pressure on those ahead of him then he need to sink some putts and fast.
McIlroy has 127 to the pin
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His approach from the rough at the first lands just short of the green. He’ll have an up and down to stay at three under.
Cam Smith is someone who can charge through the field
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And that is what he he is (sort of) doing.
The former Open champion started the day on two under and two birdies in his first four holes has moved him to four under, to within two of the leader. He has a 12 footer for another birdie but it misses on the low side. Still, the Australian is moving in the right direction.
Rory’s drive finds the right rough
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So much for finding more fairways....
Schauffele’s drive also finds the rough. The American is definitely one to watch today.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) May 17, 2026Xander Schauffele starts the day 3 back.
Schauffele is a combined 35-under in the final round of majors since the beginning of 2022, 5 shots better than anyone else in that span.
Rory McIlroy is on the first tee
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He’s playing with Xander Schauffele ( a good pairing). If he can find more fairways than he has so far then, with his hot putter at the moment, he can certainly add to his major tally.
Par for Rose at the second
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His drive left him in a great position on the fairway, some 79 yards from the pin. His approach, however, was less than desirable as it left him a 20 footer for birdie. He missed to putt and stays at three under.
Missed chance to trim Smalley’s lead
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Its come from the putter of Matsuyama as the Japanese favourite misses a six-footer at the sixth to move to five under and cut Smalley’s lead to one.
Hideki Matsuyma cut a frustrated figure yesterday
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He shot a one-over 71 to fall to two under. But today is a new day as the former Masters champion is at four under, two off the lead, thanks to three birdies (with just the solitary bogey).
Once again, it’s clear that it only takes a couple of birdies to get to the hinterland of the top of the leaderboard. As with yesterday, there could be a lot of changes over the next few hours.
Justin Rose fans at attention please
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I bring some good news. The Englishman has birdied the first to move to three under. He fired his approach from 101 yard to 13 feet and his putter did the rest. He’s now only three shots back, as is his talented playing partner Joaquin Niemann who also birdies the opening hole.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) May 17, 2026Birdie-birdie start for Joaquin Niemann, who now leads the field this week in greens in regulation (46-for-56).
Back to back approaches inside 7 feet to begin his Sunday.
JT
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That’s Justin Thomas, not Justin Timberlake, has moved to three under thanks to birdie at the 11th. His approach at the par four was hit to four feet and he made no mistake with the flat stick.
Can he win his third US PGA Championship?
No partner problems for the leader
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Think it could be key for Alex Smalley that his partner in the final group today is Matti Schmid. Could easily be Jon Rahm or Rory McIlroy, but both missed late chances to put themselves alongside the leader and so exert their presence. As always, Smalley arrived at the course with his mother, Maria, who is his manager and stat guru, and looked very composed.
There are scores to be had out there
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And as if to illustrate that, right on cue, Matt Fitzpatrick has just finished his day’s work having shot a bogey-free five-under 65. He finishes the tournament on two under.
Justin Rose’s final round is under way
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The Englishman starts the day on two under and, having won his only major some seven miles away from Aronimink at Merion, is very much one of the big contenders today. His drive finds the fairway.
Justin Thomas is two under for the front nine
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The American began yesterday’s round on fire but then the bogeys stacked up and having been at four under ended the day at level par. Well, the form champion has got back to two under thanks to three birdies, the most recent of which came at the ninth.
Kurt Kitayama makes major history
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The American became the ninth golfer to post a 63 in a final round of a major today. The world No 34 started the day way back on four over, but stormed to near the top of the leaderboard thanks to blemish-free final round in which he fired in seven birdies. He is only the second to register the low mark in the fourth round of the US PGA Championship (after Brad Faxon in 1995), and the round moves him to three under.
Asked why he was able to march into minus figures he said: “I felt like I was holing the world out there. What my eye saw that’s what the ball was doing. And that’s a good feeling. I think just the putter kind of carried me today.”
Harris English
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Is one of those US golfers you’ve heard of and knows earns millions for finishing regularly in the top 20, but wouldn’t have a chance of picking out in a line up (there are a fair few of those). Well the world No 21 has birdied the second and third to move to three under and he’s now very much in the hunt*.
*Basically ‘now in the hunt’ is a phrase applicable to anyone who fires a batch of birdies today, such is the congested nature of the top of the leaderboard.
Among the big names out early is...
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...Scottie Scheffler whose title tilt has been hampered by poor putting and so far, through three, there’s been some good news and bad news.
Let’s start with the good news: He birdied the second to move to two under, so still in with a chance of victory.
And now for the bad news: He’s just missed a tiddler at the third that would have moved him to within three of the lead. And here’s the stat that explains why he isn’t among the later starters today. That was his 11th missed putt inside three feet this tournament, ouch...
Upcoming tee times
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5:45 Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn), Chris Gotterup (US)
5:55 Min Woo Lee (Aus), Max Greyserman (US)
6:05 Ben Griffin (US), Cameron Smith (Aus)
6:15 Martin Kaymer (Ger), Bud Cauley (US)
6:25 Justin Rose (Eng), Joaquin Niemann (Chi)
6:35 Kristoffer Reitan (Nor), Chris Kirk (US)
6:55 Patrick Reed (US), Maverick McNealy (US)
7:05 Rory McIlroy (NI), Xander Schauffele (US)
7:15 Aaron Rai (Eng), Ludvig Aberg (Swe)
7:25 Nick Taylor (Can), Jon Rahm (Spa)
7:35 Alex Smalley (US), Matti Schmid (Ger)
McIlroy feeling good about chances of more major glory
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In terms of trying to predicted a winner today, it’s a bit like playing pin the tail on the donkey such are the number of contenders. Going into the final round at Aronimink there are 42 players within six shots of third-round leader Alex Smalley.
That multitude of players include former major winners, talented home hopefuls, those in search of a first major and Rory McIlroy. The Northern Irishman is three off the pace, on three under and, after a horror first round when he was outside the top 100, is feeling this could be his day.
“I had a really bad finish on Thursday, but at the end of the day, I was only seven back,” McIlroy said. “I thought back to last year’s Masters [where he won] – I was seven back after the first day and I was two ahead going into the final day.
“There’s a lot of golf and a lot of things can happen during the course of a golf tournament. I’ve progressively just got a little bit closer to the lead each day.
“We’ll see what happens, but I’ve climbed my way out of that hole a little bit. I’m proud of myself for doing that, but there’s one more day left, and I feel like, if I can – depending on what the guys do - be close enough to the lead, I feel like I’ve still got a good chance.”
Among the big names also hoping to get their hands on the Wanamaker Trophy is Jon Rahm. The Spaniard – hoping to become Spain’s first US PGA winner – missed a four-footer to drop a shot on the final hole but will still be widely regarded as one of the men to beat.
“As hard as it is to play, the challenge can also be kind of fun if you do well,” Rahm said.
“That’s probably the reason why the leaderboard is so bunched up and it’s going to be such a good Sunday.”
Stay here for all the action with the crowded chasing pack’s licking their lips in anticipation of what promises to be a thrilling major Sunday.