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Where is Aaron Rai from? How golfer made history as first Englishman to win PGA Championship originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Aaron Rai is the PGA Championship's newest winner. With this, he becomes the first Englishman to win the event in over 100 years.
He did so after posting a final score of -9, three strokes better than Jon Rahm and Alex Smalley. This marks Rai's first major win after tying for 19th in the same event a year ago.
Rai grew up in Wombourne, a village Northwest of Birmingham, England. Despite 19 Englishmen winning golf majors, Rai became just the second to win the PGA Championship, ending a 107-year drought at this historic event.
Here's everything to know about Rai's hometown and heritage.
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Where is Aaron Rai from?
Rai is originally from Wombourne, a village in England with a population of just over 14,000. He now lives in Jacksonville, Florida.
Despite an illustrious list of English golfers throughout the sport's history, only one other, Jim Barnes, has topped the PGA Championship standings like Rai in 2026. Rai becomes the first Englishman to win the event since 1919 and the first from the UK since Rory McIlroy in 2014.
Rai's background is a mix of Indian and Kenyan heritage, and he grew up in a multicultural city in England.
MORE: Timeline of every major event performance from Aaron Rai
Who is Aaron Rai's wife?
Rai is married to Gaurika Bishnoi, a professional women's golfer from India. She was ranked No. 1 in India at separate points in 2017 and 2019. Today, she competes on the Ladies European Tour and Hero Women's Pro Golf Tour.
Bishnoi holds eight career wins in India's Hero Women's Pro Golf Tour. Rai has also caddied for her on occasion.
Where did Aaron Rai go to college?
Aaron Rai chose to forgo the college golfing path altogether. Instead, he began his professional career before he reached adulthood, after graduating from Wolverhampton Grammar School.
"I turned pro when I was 17," Rai told Golf Digest. "I talked to my parents and [local course owner] Shabir [Randeree]. We believed turning pro was the best way to learn, even though I probably wasn't ready."
Two years after turning pro, Rai began on his first tour, the PGA EuroPro Tour in 2014. He got his first invitation to a major event in 2017, where he competed at the U.S. Open.
MORE: How much did Aaron Rai win at 2026 PGA Championship?
How old is Aaron Rai?
Aaron Rai is 31 years old, and was born on March 3, 1995.
Aaron Rai career earnings
According to the PGA Tour, Rai has earned $12.34 million throughout his golfing career. This placed him in 226th place on the all-time winnings list, entering the weekend. After winning $3.68 million at Aronimink, however, this number jumps to over $16 million, moving him into the top 200.
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