Rory McIlroy says PGA Champ players are united in | Sports News

Rory McIlroy believes each participant on the PGA Championship can be delighted by Aaron Rai’s victory — and the six-time main winner had nothing however reward for the Englishman following his breakthrough first main title.

Rai etched his title in the historical past books as the primary PGA Championship winner to shoot a decrease rating in every successive spherical, carding a good 5-under 65 to depart the sector in his wake on Sunday. Having sat tied for fifteenth on the midway stage of the season’s second main, 4 birdies on the back 9 proved the decisive catalyst.

McIlroy struggled to problem the leaders all through the day, even dropping his composure with a fan at one level, but was overjoyed to watch Rai declare the coveted trophy.

“Aaron is getting away from the field a little bit and looks like he’s going to win, which is great,” stated McIlroy as Rai drained a outstanding 68-foot birdie putt on the seventeenth gap. You will not discover one particular person on property who’s not glad for him.”

McIlroy was paired with former Ryder Cup standout Xander Schauffele during the final round, and the American was equally effusive in his admiration for the champion.

“I’m tremendous glad for him. He’s such a good dude,” said Schauffele following the conclusion of play.

“Rarely do you see people work actually laborious. I imply, that is not honest. Rarely do you’re feeling like people work manner tougher than you is what I used to be making an attempt to say. I really feel like I’ve performed a fairly good quantity of time, and Aaron is at all times there.

“He’s always in the gym. He’s always on the range. He’s always — you know, at the Scottish, I’m staying right on site there. I thought it was fun for Austin and I to go putt. Aaron is finishing up his little putting session at 9:00 p.m. and going to the gym at 9:45. This was three years ago. I think that’s what it’s about to be a major champion. You put the work in when nobody’s looking. Super pumped for him and his team.”

LIV Golf star Jon Rahm posted a two-under on the day and completed tied-second. Despite narrowly lacking out on the title, he was equally beneficiant in his reward for Rai.

“I haven’t spent a lot of time with him,” stated Rahm. “But I have heard consistently there’s very few people that are nicer and kinder human beings than Aaron Rai. Anybody that wears or uses head covers in his irons because he coveted his irons when he was a kid so much that he wanted to respect the equipment so much, and to still do it?

“Yeah, precisely, he is nonetheless doing it exhibits a lot about a particular person. I’ve heard completely nothing however good or great issues about Aaron Rai. He’s been enjoying great golf. He’s a incredible golfer. He’s been in a position to carry out rather well. What he did at present is nothing short of particular.”

With his victory, Rai secured a lifetime exemption into the PGA Championship and a five-year exemption into the Masters, the U.S. Open, The Open, and on the PGA Tour. He will even take home a duplicate Wanamaker trophy and a champion’s money clip. Rai additionally holds the excellence of being the primary English-born golfer to say the PGA Championship in more than a century, attaining the feat at Aronimink Golf Club.