NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — While Aaron Rai was pulling away from the pack Sunday at the PGA Championship, two of the biggest names in golf were unable to keep pace on the back nine and make the first-time major winner from England sweat it out.
Spanish star Jon Rahm tied for second three shots behind Rai by going 67-68 on the weekend, while Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy landed five behind Rai and tied for seventh after a Sunday 69.
Rai played his final 10 holes in 6 under par to emerge from an ever-changing leaderboard, and Rahm, McIlroy, Xander Schauffele and others with major-championship experience could not solve the more challenging back nine at Aronimink Golf Club.
Five of the course’s six toughest holes this week were on the back nine, and only two on the back played under par — the short par-4 No. 13 and No. 16, the only par-5.
Rahm only birdied No. 16 amid a sea of eight pars; he narrowly missed a birdie putt at No. 13, as well as 17 and 18.
“What Aaron did today, catching him could have been very difficult,” Rahm said. “I don’t know if it could happen, but I would have liked a better chance playing the last two holes.”
Rahm’s T2 was nonetheless his best finish at a major in three years, which coincides with his three seasons as a member of LIV Golf. Asked Sunday what he feels he needs to tidy up to “get across the line” this season, Rahm responded, “I’m assuming you mean in majors?” That’s because he’s had a successful LIV season, with two victories and three runners-up to date in seven events.
“The margin, even though it’s three shots, it can be so small honestly,” Rahm said. “I feel like I’m playing really good golf and definitely played good enough this week to give myself a chance to win. So keep doing what I’ve been doing well.
“I still need to give myself some time to think about what I could have done better this week. Right now I’m really still fresh on just today, but I did miss two putts from about four feet yesterday. So that’s two shots right there.”
Rahm has previously said he needed to change some things about his preparation for major championships. He told reporters Sunday that he did in fact make some tweaks; asked if he’d elaborate, Rahm grinned and said, “No.”
“I think you guys always think it’s going to be something life-changing,” he said. “It’s just small, little details that, unless you’re within (the game), you’re not really going to understand. It’s hard to explain.”
Masters champion McIlroy was very much in contention to win his second leg of the calendar Grand Slam after rebounding from an opening 74 with rounds of 67 and 66. Far and away the fan favorite on the property Sunday, he thrilled the crowd by sticking his approach at No. 2 to 5 feet and converting the birdie.
But that was the only birdie he’d see until the par-3 14th, one hole after a disastrous bogey at the gettable 13th, where he shoved his drive to the right and hit from back-to-back thick lies in the rough.
McIlroy also failed to capitalize at No. 16, making par and resigning himself to a top-10 finish rather than a victory.
He did not sit for a full press conference but gave brief comments in a TV interview.
“I think not birdieing the two par-5s and making the bogey at the drivable par-4 13th” did him in, he said. “To me I felt like I played the golf I needed to play the rest of the way. If I birdied the two par-5s and turned that 5 into a 3 on 13, the day looks very different.”
But both Rahm and McIlroy joined the chorus of praise for Rai, who shook off three early bogeys and sank a 40-foot eagle putt at No. 9 before a series of terrific shots led to four birdies on the back nine, including a 68 1/2-footer at No. 17.
“You won’t find one person on property who’s not happy for him,” McIlroy said.
In the long term, the intriguing piece is that Rahm and McIlroy may have been watching a future Ryder Cup teammate. Rai, 31, has yet to be selected for a Ryder Cup team but has put his name in the mix for 2027 at Adare Manor.
Rahm said he has not spent much time with Rai, but the reviews are overwhelmingly positive.
“I have heard consistently there’s very few people that are nicer and kinder human beings than Aaron Rai,” Rahm said, noting his respect for the game. “… I have heard absolutely nothing but good or great things about Aaron Rai. He’s been playing great golf. He’s a fantastic golfer. He’s been able to perform really well. What he did today is nothing short of special.”
