English Lion Aaron Rai Tames Aronimink

“Dear Diary”, 17th May 2026

Picture courtesy of and with thanks to www.news.sky.com

32 players were within just 3 shots of the lead after Day 1. 22 players were within just 3 shots of the lead after Day 2.

After Day 3, 10 players were now within 3 shots of the lead, but the field remained tightly bunched with 30 players under par, and all within 6 shots of the lead held by Alex Smalley.

Smalley’s even par final round of 70 for a tournament score of -6 was never going to be enough today, and especially when considering he’d dropped shots and been consumed by a field now headed by fellow American Justin Thomas who shot 65 to post a clubhouse lead, and target for a bunched field to chase, of -5. Thomas held the clubhouse lead for so long, it seemed inevitable that with a tightly packed field still on the golf course all within 2 or 3 shots that a playoff of multiple players would be needed.

But favourite Scottie Scheffler bit the dust, World Number 2 Rory McIlroy simply couldn’t ignite a back 9 charge, and through it all came a resolute charge for the title from the softly spoken man from Wolverhampton in central England, Aaron Rai. A mixed bag of a final round was turned on its head by an eagle on the 9th, birdies at 11, 13, 16 and a monster birdie putt on the 17th hole secured him the “greatest walk in golf”, and the first English champion of the PGA Championship since Jim Barnes in 1919.

“Dear Diary” is a new concept I’m running with for the new year. Short, punchy, irreverent, spoiler free, telling you everything and nothing about that day’s particular journal entry. Here’s today’s entry. Do check back in tomorrow. After you’ve tempted yourself with one of these beauties I self-published either side of Christmas 2025:

(Author’s Collection)

(Author’s Collection)

[embed]Alone with Everybody (Rambling musings and other balderdash) Buy Alone with Everybody (Rambling musings and other balderdash) by Blackford, Mr Stephen Patrick (ISBN: 9798276713946)…www.amazon.co.uk