Aaron Rai Applauds Philly Sports Culture, Officially Becomes an Eagles Fan Following PGA Win

Aaron Rai finished the week nine-under with three shot lead over Spain's Jon Rahm and USA's Alex Smalley to win the 2026 PGA Championship

Aaron Rai Applauds Philly Sports Culture, Officially Becomes an Eagles Fan Following PGA Win

Aaron Rai with the Wanamaker Trophy (image via Reuters)

In Short
  • Aaron Rai won his first PGA Championship, becoming the first Englishman to do so since 1919.
  • He officially declared himself an Eagles fan during a post-event interview, receiving a warm response from the crowd.
  • Rai's victory ended a 107-year drought for English golfers at the PGA Championship, marking a significant milestone in golf history.

At 31, Aaron Rai scripted history on Sunday at the Aronimink Links in western Philadelphia when he won his maiden PGA Championship. Rai became the first Englishman since 1919 to win the event, since Jim Barnes won his second title in New York.

In fact, Rai would be the first ever Englishman to win the Wanamaker Trophy in the stroke play era. Often, sports personalities tend to form emotional associations with the places or cities where they land their first major victory. In Rai’s case, that is Philadelphia. And the city of Brotherly Love has caught Rai’s heart.

In his post event interview with Amanda Balionis Renner, the golfer acknowledged the incredible atmosphere in Philadelphia.

They (the fans) were incredible from start to finish. Honestly, I think out of all four of the majors the biggest and loudest atmosphere comes at the PGA Championship and you guys definitely lived up to it this week.

He also admitted that he received immense support even as an Englishman.

Even for me personally, being from England, your support for me was absolutely incredible so I really appreciate that from the very start until the finish,.

Rai responded, “Unfortunately not,” when Renner asked if he had a favorite NFL team coming into the tournament. And when she pressed with a follow-up question about whether he had a team now, Rai chuckled and answered, “I do, the Eagles,” to a roaring crowd who didn’t wait before they broke out into an Eagles chant.

The Eagles offensive tackle, Jordan Mailata, who was in attendance for the final day of the USPGA championships, also joined in on the chant from the gallery.

At the Aronimink Links in Newton Square, Pennsylvania, Rai finished the week nine-under with three shot lead over Spain’s Jon Rahm and USA’s Alex Smalley. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler tied for 14th after a final round shot of 69 (-1). Justin Thomas was the best performing past champion, tied in fourth position.

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Aaron Rai etched his name in English golf history on Sunday

Aaron Rai didn’t just win his maiden championship on Sunday, he scripted a unique piece of history while doing it. The Indian-descent golfer broke one of the longstanding droughts in golf for the English, putting a stop to a 107-year-old curse of an Englishman not winning the PGA Championship.

Aaron Rai
Aaron Rai (Image via X/@DPWorldTour)

In addition to being first since 1919 when it comes to England, Rai is also only the second Indian-descent man to win a major golf championship. Vijay Singh, who represented Fiji, won three majors including two PGA Championships (1998, 2004) and a Masters (2000) being the first in that specific list.

England hasn’t been quite the powerhouse in golf for a longtime now. In the 21st century, only four Englishmen, including Rai, have won a major. The US Open was won by Justin Rose in 2013 and Matt Fitzpatrick in 2022, while Danny Willett won his maiden major in 2016, winning the Masters.

They are behind fellow constituent country Scotland when it comes to men’s major victories. Scotland has 55 titles to its name, mostly by virtue of its early dominance in The Open. The last Scot to win a major was Paul Lawrie almost 27 years ago.

Rai’s victory put him in a very exclusive club of people. In the press conference following the trophy presentation, Rai expressed gratitude and his pride in becoming one of the members of that list. “It’s a privilege to be a part of the history of this event,” Rai said when a reporter asked him how it felt to be a part of English golf history.

In the aftermath of his win, the current UK prime minister Keir Starmer, the Royal Family, the Wolverhampton Wolves, and many others congratulated him on social media.

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