Aaron Rai and Gaurika Bishnoi. Image via: Today’s Golfer

Aaron Rae ultimately captured the PGA Championship by finishing 18th at Aronimink, but his thoughts went far beyond the trophy. After pipping Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Justin Thomas to top the jam-packed leaderboard, the new major champion talked about his wife, fellow professional golfer Gaurika Bishnoi, and her role in the biggest win of his career.Rai credited Bishnoi for not only helping him handle the chaos of major championship golf but also for sharpening his mindset during the tense final on Sunday. The pair also discussed strategy in the car the night before the final round, with Rai admitting that this conversation stayed with him during the journey to history.

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Aaron Rai’s honesty after the win revealed how Gaurika Bishnoi influences his game.“She’s been incredible,” Rai told reporters on May 17, 2026, after her win. “I’m not exaggerating when I say I wouldn’t be here without him. As a partner, as a friend, as someone I’m sharing my life with, but also as a real support system for my game. He’s a professional golfer himself.”The 31-year-old player explained how Bishnoi’s understanding of golf gives added value to his advice during difficult moments.“So her mindset, her advice, her ideas, whether it’s technique or the way I’m handling myself is absolutely invaluable. She covers so many different sides in her opinion,” Rai said. “We talked for maybe 30 minutes in the car yesterday right before we got back to the hotel, just talking a little bit about today. Then, some of the things she brought up in the conversation really stuck with me today. Yeah, I really wouldn’t be here without him.There was a quiet authenticity to the way Rai described their relationship. He also admitted that Bishnoi regularly outperforms him during practice sessions.“We practice together a lot. To be honest, she beats me more times than I beat her,” Rai said. “When we hold competitions, chipping competitions, we do some wedge games on the Trackman. It’s good for me to keep up with her. She’s really good.”

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Entering the final round, 21 players sat within four shots of the lead in one of the deepest major fields in recent memory. McIlroy, Rahm, Cameron Smith and Xander Schauffele were all hovering around contention, but Rae slowly distinguished himself with cool precision on one of the toughest setups we’ve seen this season.His turning point came with a spectacular eagle putt on the par-five ninth. From there on, the Englishman never looked nervous again. Birdies on the 11th, 13th, 16th and 17th holes put him ahead while others around him faded under the pressure.By the time Roy walked onto the 18th fairway, history had been written. He became the first English golfer to win the PGA Championship since Jim Barnes in 1919.