The PGA Championship featured some of the best golfers in the world, like Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler, but Aaron Rai took the title. Rai was a long shot before the tournament began. He wasn’t the leader when the third round ended, either. But when the final putt was made, Rai stood above the field after a terrific tournament.

Aaron Rai breaks century-long losing streak for Englishmen at PGA Championship

The PGA Championship is not as prestigious as the other three Major tournaments, but it is a Major nonetheless. Winning it is highly impressive. Throughout the years, golfers from all over the world have taken home the trophy. But there hadn’t been an English golfer to win in 107 years.

Rai wasn’t even aware of this until Saturday. “There’s a lot of incredible and historic English players over those hundred years who have gone on to achieve incredible things and had phenomenal careers, but to win this event and then to be the person that’s the first one to have won it in a long time from England is an amazing thing and something to be extremely proud of,” he said.

Rai struggled to open the final round, but he rebounded by eagling the ninth hole and adding four birdies without a single bogey on the back nine to pull away. He ended up winning by three strokes over Jon Rahm and Alex Smalley, who was the leader heading into Sunday morning.

Even though they all lost, everyone seems genuinely happy for Rai, a first-time Major-winner. Rory McIlroy said, “You won’t find one person on the property who’s not happy for him.” Two-time Major champion Xander Schauffele echoed that, highlighting how hard Rai has worked to get to this level and finally break through on the biggest stage.

Historic betting victory at PGA Championship

To say Aaron Rai was a long shot before the PGA Championship began would be an understatement. He was not remotely considered for contention. Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, Xander Schauffele, and plenty of others had way better odds.

Rai was 290-1 to come away victorious on DraftKings. The sportsbook also took a $288 bet when Rai was 230-1 that paid out $66,240 to the winner. He is not just the biggest longshot bet to win the PGA Championship in two decades. It’s the biggest longshot win in two decades at any Major, passing Phil Mickelson at the 2021 PGA and Louis Oosthuizen at the 2010 Open Championship. Both were 200-1.

Of course, odds vary, but the fact remains that Rai’s victory is unprecedented. BetMGM closed with Rai at 150-1, and the Westgate in Las Vegas was at 200-1. Caesars had a bettor place a $190 bet on Rai at 200-1, and he came away with $38,000.

“Golf is an amazing game,” said Rai. “It teaches you so many things, and it teaches you so much humility and discipline and absolute hard work because nothing is ever given in this game.” Rai also became the second Major champion of Indian heritage, joining the legendary Vijay Singh in that category.

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