Aaron Rai a surprise major winner only by name as PGA Championship lives up to major reputation
NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. (AP) — The PGA Championship once used a slogan that only illustrated an identity crisis of a major often looked upon as the fourth of four. “This is major," it said, as if anyone should need a reminder.
The 108th edition was every bit of a major, right down to Aaron Rai joining a list of surprise winners that speaks to the beautiful meritocracy in the game, and the shots he produced that will become part of PGA Championship lore. Most memorable was a putt that determined only the margin of victory, just inside 70 feet across the par-3 17th green that Rai later said he was only trying to get close. The pace was perfect.
“Amazing to see that one go in,” Rai said. No matter. It was an exclamation point, a shot that will get replayed as often as Shaun Micheel hitting 7-iron to 2 inches on the final hole at Oak Hill ; Justin Thomas driving the par-4 17th green at Southern Hills in a playoff; Collin Morikawa hitting driver to 7 feet on the par-4 16th at Harding Park for the decisive shot in his first major title.
Not to be overlooked is Tiger Woods making that 6-foot par putt at Valhalla on the 72nd hole in 2000. He often refers to it as the most important putt of his career. And he made a lot of them.
It's a long list, and every major has them. That so many exceptional shots came from Rai, a 31-year-old who had never so much as contended in a major, is irrelevant. Every major has surprise winners.
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