Two Gloves, Iron Covers And A Dream: Behind Indian-Origin Golfer Aaron Rai’s Historic PGA Championship Win

Aaron Rai has always done things differently.

Two gloves. Iron covers on every club. Quiet routines. Minimal fuss.

And now, he’s got a major championship title to go with it all.

The Indian-origin English golfer produced the performance of his life on Sunday, winning the PGA Championship at 9-under par to become the first Englishman since 1919 to lift the Wanamaker Trophy.

Rai closed with a brilliant 65 to finish three shots clear of Spain’s Jon Rahm and American Alex Smalley, pocketing $3.69 million from a record $20.5 million purse.

But beyond the trophy and history, Rai’s win carried layers of emotion, sacrifice and family connection.

Why Rai Uses Iron Covers And Wears Two Gloves?

The 31-year-old from Wombourne was raised by his parents, Amrik Singh

and Dalvir, who worked tirelessly to support his golfing dream in England.

When Rai was seven, his parents stretched financially to buy him a set of Titleist clubs. Wanting to preserve them for as long as possible, his father would clean the grooves with a pin, apply baby oil to the club faces and carefully cover every iron after use.

The habit never left him, and it was on display for all at the PGA Championship too.

Then there are the two gloves.

Given his family’s financial struggles to support Rai’s young career weraly on in life, they reached out to a local newspaper to spread the word about their son’s career.

A local reader gifted young Rai a pair of all-weather gloves suited to England’s cold conditions. And since then, he’s worn both in his hands.

Rai’s Caddie/Wife Gaurika

Standing beside him through this latest chapter was his wife, Gaurika Bishnoi, one of India’s leading women golfers, who served as his caddie during the Masters Par-3 Contest earlier this year.

“She’s been incredible. I’m not exaggerating when I say that I wouldn’t be here without her,” Rai said after the win.

“She’s a professional golfer herself, so her mindset, her advice and her thoughts… are invaluable.”

Before Sunday, Rai had just one PGA Tour title. Now, he has golf immortality.