Aaron Rai completed a remarkable journey from Wolverhampton to the summit of golf, winning the 2026 US PGA Championship at Aronimink in Philadelphia - Rocky Balboa's backyard. The 31-year-old Englishman heard "Eye of the Tiger" playing as he received congratulations in the clubhouse, a fitting soundtrack for an underdog's triumph.

Rai's path to victory was unconventional. He wears two gloves instead of the single glove every other professional golfer uses - a habit formed after trying to play with one felt "terrible." His mother inadvertently shaped his destiny by purchasing plastic golf clubs instead of hockey sticks when he was a toddler. Rai had once dreamed of being a Formula 1 driver, wearing Ferrari gear in junior competitions before fully committing to golf by age nine.

His parents made immense sacrifices. Father Amrik quit his job to focus on Rai's development, while mother Dalvir worked long hours to fund his career. Six-time major champion Rory McIlroy said: "You won't find one person on the property who's not happy for him." Two-time major winner Xander Schauffele added that Rai is "always in the gym, always on the range" - the work behind the scenes that defines a major champion.