US PGA Championship 2026: Aaron Rye on wife’s advice that helped him win first major

Unlike most professional golfers, Rai doesn’t have an agent – something he insists won’t change despite his rise to 15th in the world after his win.

He has been sponsored and advised by British golf instruction company Me & My Golf for years and is happy to look after his own affairs.

Like his efficient and tidy golf, he keeps his system simple.

“It’s always been a conscious effort from day one of turning professional and keeping things in a close circle,” Rai said. “Through the years and various experiences, that’s something that has remained true for me.

“I’ve never felt the need to communicate and change those things. I’ve helped deal with certain things, but not through a specific agent or manager.”

Rai’s family has been an integral part of his career, with much written this week about his parents’ sacrifices to do the best for their son.

Winning the US PGA Championship boosted Rai’s bank balance by $3.7m (£2.8m) but, while he is keen to give back to his support network, he has no plans to make any extravagant purchases.

“It’s something I never really thought about,” he said. “I have a really nice house which I absolutely love – I imported my car from the UK and I wouldn’t change it for anything.

“I wanted to get some of my family members something but I wanted to be thoughtful rather than buying something expensive X Amount

“I’m definitely going to sit with it and think about it some more.”

While the prize money may be safe, Rai revealed that he has yet to receive the two-and-a-half-stone Wanamaker trophy because it took “a little damage”.

The winner of the US PGA Championship is given a replica to look after and keep the original for a year – none of which have yet arrived.

“I’m not sure exactly what happened,” Rae said with a laugh. “There was a little damage to the top of the trophy, which they wanted to fix before going anywhere.”