Two gloves, one major – England's Rai wins US PGA title

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Aaron Rai had never finished higher than tied 19th in his 13 previous appearances at a majorByJonathan JurejkoBBC Sport golf reporterUS PGA Championship final round-9 A Rai (Eng); -6 J Rahm (Spa), A Smalley (US); -5 J Thomas (US), L Aberg (Swe), M Schmid (Ger); -4 C Smith (Aus), R McIlroy (NI), X Schauffele (US)Selected others: -3 J Rose (Eng), P Reed (US); -2 M Fitzpatrick (Eng), S Scheffler (US); -1 J Spieth (US), P Harrington (Ire); +2 M Wallace (Eng), S Lowry (Ire)Full leaderboardEngland's Aaron Rai has racked up a whole host of firsts after emerging from a bunched pack to win the US PGA Championship at a testing Aronimink.A first major title of his career. The first Englishman to win the Wanamaker Trophy since Jim Barnes in 1919. The first non-American to triumph in a decade. And surely the first major champion who wears two gloves while he is playing – a continuation of how he learned the game as a child.On a course set-up which has scrambled many minds over the past four days, 31-year-old Rai played with clarity and composure in Sunday's final round.After methodically putting himself into the lead, a moment of magic ensured the Wolverhampton-born Rai will go down in golfing folklore.Expertly draining a 69-foot putt on the 17th green – the second longest of the whole week – all but clinched victory. It helped Rai, who had never previously finished in the top-10 at a major, card a magnificent five-under 65 to finish nine under overall.That was enough to end three shots clear of Spain's two-time major champion Jon Rahm and unheralded American Alex Smalley – the overnight leader – who finished joint second."It is very surreal," said Rai, who has struggled to practice at times this year because of a neck injury."It has been a frustrating season so being stood here is outside of my wildest imagination."He is just the eighth Englishman to win a major since World War II, joining Henry Cotton, Max Faulkner, Tony Jacklin, Nick Faldo, Justin Rose, Danny Willett and Matt Fitzpatrick.Behind Rahm and Smalley, there was a three-way tie on five under between American two-time champion Justin Thomas, Swedish Ryder Cup star Ludvig Aberg and little-known German Matthias Schmid.Former world number one Thomas had posted the early target after a five-under 65, then sat back in the clubhouse to watch and wait patiently – while hoping for a "little bit of help" to win.The wind did not whip up as Thomas hoped. Yet, with the severely-sloped greens playing firm in the Pennsylvanian sun, and the thick rough continuing to be penal, scoring opportunities remained at a premium.For almost everyone other than Rai. All week long it felt like a strategic thinker would be the one to prevail and Rai, known on tour for his diligence, carefully plotted his way to victory.Keeping his ball on the fairway from the tee – he was fourth best for the week – proved to be an effective tactic which others did not find as simple.Once Rai moved clear of the pack on seven under – thanks to birdies on the 11th and 13th – it looked like a score which would not be caught.In what was now by far the biggest moment of his career, an emotionless Rai stayed in the zone. The experience of beating a strong field at the DP World Tour's Abu Dhabi Championship in November was perhaps something he was able to draw on.Another tap-in birdie on the par-five 16th put more daylight between him and the pack, before a putt from the other end of the measuring stick put victory within touching distance.Rai somehow negotiated an impossible-looking putt to move three shots clear of his rivals. Only then did he show a flicker of emotion. But the gentle fist pump as the fans around him went wild was telling and perfectly encapsulated how Rai has become a major champion – by keeping calm in the eye of the storm."I definitely wasn't trying to hole that putt," Rai smiled as he clutched the Wanamaker Trophy. "The shadow of the pin gave a really nice line for the last 10 feet so that helped with the visual."It just tracked really well – it was amazing to see it go in."Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Rory McIlroy cut a dejected figure at the end after a frustrating day yielded just two birdiesRai stood tall and kept mistakes off his card while the more illustrious names around him fell short.Bidding to add a third US PGA title to his successful Masters defence last month, Rory McIlroy closed with a one-under 69 to finish five shots back. McIlroy started the day three back of Smalley and birdied the second hole, but his frustration grew during a run of 10 pars before his hopes were virtually extinguished with a bogey at the driveable par-four 13th.Errant off the tee – hitting just four out of 14 fairways – the six-time major winner also failed to birdie either par five on Sunday and finished level par on the longer holes for the championship. "I'm proud that I gave myself a chance," the world number two told BBC Sport NI. "But there are three holes I'll rue. Not birdieing the two par fives and then making bogey at the driveable par-four. Those three holes cost me a chance to win."Rahm birdied the first two holes to quickly reach six under and a share of the lead before dropping shots at the third and seventh holes. And while the Spaniard picked up birdies at the two par-fives to finish in a tie for second, he could not match the blistering pace set by Rai. Rahm and McIlroy's Ryder Cup team-mates Ludvig Aberg and Justin Rose were also unable to make a run at it.Swede Aberg threatened to challenge but three bogeys in four holes around the turn derailed his challenge before two birdies in his final three holes lifted him into a share of fourth on five under, while Englishman Rose finished with nine straight pars to close on three under and in a tie for 10th. And there was to be no charge from world number one Scottie Scheffler. The defending champion began the round five back, but his putting woes continued – he missed 13 putts inside of 10 feet throughout the week – as he finished seven back in a tie for 14th.Golf