PGA Championship 2026 Winner | Aaron Rai Wins First Major at Aronimink

Aaron Rai is your 2026 PGA Championship winner. The 31-year-old Englishman fired a final-round 65 to come from off the lead and post -9 (271) at Aronimink Golf Club, beating Jon Rahm and Alex Smalley by three strokes to claim his first major championship. Rai’s 65 was the lowest final-round score by a winner at the PGA Championship since 2018, and the win lifts him to a career-defining moment ahead of the US Open at Oakmont in three weeks. For Australian punters who backed Cameron Smith pre-tournament, the news was mixed: Smith finished T7 at -4 in a strong Open Championship lead-up, while Min Woo Lee was T18 at -1.

PGA Championship 2026 — Final Leaderboard (Top 10)

Pos	Player	Score	Rounds
1	Aaron Rai 🏆 (ENG)	-9 (271)	70-69-67-65
T2	Jon Rahm (ESP)	-6 (274)	69-70-67-68
T2	Alex Smalley (USA)	-6 (274)	67-69-68-70
T4	Justin Thomas (USA)	-5 (275)	—
T4	Ludvig Åberg (SWE)	-5 (275)	—
T4	Matti Schmid (GER)	-5 (275)	—
T7	Cameron Smith 🇦🇺 (AUS)	-4 (276)	—
T7	Rory McIlroy (NIR)	-4 (276)	—
T7	Xander Schauffele (USA)	-4 (276)	—
10	Kurt Kitayama (USA)	-3 (277)	—

 

How Aaron Rai Won the 2026 PGA Championship

Aaron Rai started the final round at -4, four shots off the 54-hole lead, and outside the top-10 in the betting markets at most Australian wagering operators. Then he fired a final-round 65 — including a bogey-free back nine — to charge through the field and post -9 (271). When Rahm and Smalley couldn’t match his late run, the championship was Rai’s.

The signature stretch was the back nine: five birdies in seven holes from the 11th onwards, with the key moment a 28-foot eagle putt on the par-5 15th that took him to -9 and into the outright lead. The Englishman never gave it back. His winning rounds:

• R1: 70 (level par)
• R2: 69 (-1)
• R3: 67 (-3) — moved into top-10
• R4: 65 (-5) — winning Sunday charge

Rai’s victory makes him the second consecutive Englishman to win the PGA Championship in recent memory and the first Brit to win his maiden major at the event since Padraig Harrington won the 2008 Open. The win also pushes Rai well inside the top 10 of the world rankings and reshapes the rest of the 2026 major season — with Oakmont (US Open, 11-14 Jun) and Royal Birkdale (The Open, 16-19 Jul) coming up.

Cameron Smith T7 — Best Australian Result of 2026 So Far

Cameron Smith finished T7 at -4 in what was easily his best major performance since the 2022 Open Championship. The Brisbane-based Smith — who has played most of 2026 on the LIV Golf tour — opened with 68 to put himself inside the top-15, then held position through three rounds before a closing 71 on Sunday. His T7 finish was the equal-best Australian PGA Championship result since Jason Day’s T8 in 2024, and Smith’s irons play was the standout part of the performance.

For Australian punters who backed Cameron Smith at typical $26-$30 each-way pre-tournament, the T7 finish cashed the each-way leg comfortably (paying 1/4 odds to T8 at most operators). It also resets the conversation around Smith’s major championship credentials heading into Oakmont and Royal Birkdale — both venues that historically favour his short-iron game.

Min Woo Lee finished T18 at -1 — a respectable result for the Australian who continues to develop in the majors. Min Woo’s R3 67 was the highlight of his week.

Storylines from the 2026 PGA Championship

Jon Rahm in the Mix Again

The Spaniard finished T2 at -6 in his strongest major performance of 2026. Rahm started 67 in his second round to move up the leaderboard, but couldn’t quite find the final-round 65-66 he needed to catch Rai. The T2 finish underlines his Oakmont credentials — Rahm’s pure ball-striking game travels to US Open venues, and Oakmont’s penal rough should suit him.

Rory McIlroy Quiet Inside the Top 10

Rory McIlroy finished T7 at -4 — a respectable result but well short of the form he’d shown at the Masters and PGA Championship combined entry. McIlroy’s putting was the issue; his approach play and tee-to-green numbers were elite, but four three-putts across the four rounds is what cost him a top-three finish. He’ll be one of the favourites at Oakmont.

Justin Thomas Returns to Form

Justin Thomas finished T4 at -5 — his best major performance since his 2022 PGA Championship win. Thomas had been off-form for most of 2025-26, but his ball-striking at Aronimink showed signs that the rebuild is working. He’s now back in the second tier of major championship favourites.

What This Means for the Rest of the 2026 Majors

With three majors still to play (US Open 11-14 Jun, The Open 16-19 Jul, ZBP Tour Championship Sep), the outright landscape is reshaped:

• Aaron Rai — now firmly in the conversation for The Open at Royal Birkdale. His Sunday 65 was elite tee-to-green and his short game has been one of the more under-rated on Tour.
• Jon Rahm — Oakmont’s penal setup is the kind of US Open venue where Rahm’s tee-to-green ceiling stands out. Currently $9-$11 outright.
• Rory McIlroy — putting needs work, but his approach game is still the league’s best at $7-$9.
• Cameron Smith — T7 reset his major credentials. Royal Birkdale fits his game style. Currently $26-$32 for The Open outright.
• Scottie Scheffler — missed the cut at Aronimink, his second cut-miss in three majors. His outright price has drifted to $7-$9 for Oakmont but he remains the world No. 1.

For the latest outright markets across the remaining 2026 majors, see our Golf hub and the live outright markets at our shortlisted operators.

Looking for the best bookmakers to bet on golf?

Major championship golf is one of the most-bet sporting events at Australian wagering operators. Outright markets open weeks before each event and offer huge each-way value on second-tier players. Our team has reviewed every major Australian sportsbook for golf outright depth, top finish markets, live betting and round leader options — see our best golf betting sites in Australia guide for full bookmaker comparisons, or check the newest betting sites in Australia for fresh signup offers.

Next on the PGA TOUR: Memorial Tournament 2026 preview & tips — Muirfield Village, 4-7 June. Scottie Scheffler chasing the three-peat with a $20M purse on the line.

More Golf Content

• Golf Tips Hub — every major, every Tour event
• PGA Championship 2026 — How We Tipped It
• Masters 2026 Winner — Rory McIlroy Goes Back-to-Back at Augusta
• Masters Tournament Tips, Preview & Predictions
• Best Golf Betting Sites Australia

Responsible gambling: Gambling Help 1800 858 858. Online support at gamblinghelponline.org.au. 18+ only. BettingPro may receive affiliate commissions from bookmakers listed on this page.