Aaron Rai grew up hard-working and humble in the heart of England, family examples developing patterns that led to his victory Sunday at the PGA Championship.
The 31-year-old became the first English golfer since Jim Barnes in 1919 to win the PGA title, making four birdies and an eagle in the final 10 holes to seal a four-stroke victory at Aronimink.
“It definitely feels like a journey,” Rai said. “A lot goes into it, from being a junior golfer to developing the game and having the prospect of turning professional. Then you realize once you turn professional how good some of these guys are.”
Rai’s father is of Indian origin while his mother is of Kenyan heritage and growing up in England has made him a mixture of all their cultures.
“I’m very proud to be from England. That’s where I grew up. That’s where most of my family still lives,” Rai said.
“I am very proud of India and Kenya too. My mother still spends a lot of time in Kenya. Both sets of my maternal grandparents came from India.
