Breven Honda
The 2026 PGA Championship wrapped up Sunday, and in a fitting end, Aaron Rai was victorious at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania.
Despite challenging conditions on Friday, Rai was able to overcome the obstacles and hoist the Wanamaker Trophy.
Here are 10 winners and losers from the 2026 PGA Championship.
Winner: Aaron Rai, PGA Championship Winner
For the first time in his career, Aaron Rai won a major championship. His best finish at a major before Sunday was T19 on three different occasions. Rai, who is known for wearing golf gloves on both hands, recorded four birdies on the back nine for a final round 65. His round was stamped by making a 68-foot birdie putt on the par-3 17th to take a three-shot lead. This marks his second PGA Tour win and first since winning the 2024 Wyndham Championship. Rai is also the first Englishman to win the PGA Championship since 1919.
Also read: 2026 PGA Championship: 10 Major Storylines to Watch at Aronimink
Loser: Alex Smalley
Despite having the 54-hole lead, Alex Smalley was unable to hold the lead and win the Wanamaker Trophy, finishing three shots back of Rai as the runner-up. Smalley did not get off to a good start with a double bogey on the par-4 sixth and a bogey on the par-3 sixth. Although he answered with a birdie on the par-5 ninth and an eagle on the par-5th 16th, it was not enough to get the job done. However, he recorded his best major finish on Sunday.
Winner: Jon Rahm
Since leaving the PGA Tour to head to LIV Golf, Jon Rahm has struggled at the four major championships. In eight majors, he has not contended in any event, despite a couple of top 10s last year at the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open. Rahm closed his 10th PGA Championship with a runner-up finish and tied with Smalley. Despite two birdies on the first two holes, he had two bogeys over the next five holes.
Also read: 8 LIV Stars We Can’t Wait to See Return to PGA as New Rumors Emerge on Saudi League’s Death
Winner: Justin Thomas
The two-time PGA Championship winner came close to winning again. Justin Thomas, who hoisted the Wanamaker Trophy in 2017 and 2022, recorded a closing 65 to finish tied for fourth. Had he not shot a 2-over 72 Saturday, it would be a different story for the Alabama alum. Thomas also recorded his best finish this season this week at Aronimink Golf Club. After an opening bogey on the third hole, he made six birdies the rest of the way to record his fourth top 10 at the PGA Championship.
Loser: Crowded leaderboards
For those who were hoping for someone to break open early on Sunday or Saturday, you did not get that. After Friday, when the field was cut in half, there were more than 50 players within six shots of the lead, making it anyone’s game to win the PGA Championship. As a result, the championship storylines progressed to Sunday before Rai won.
Winner: Ludvig Aberg
Since his 2024 Masters runner-up, Ludvig Aberg has not quite reached that contention level with four missed cuts. However, on Sunday, Aberg got back to that form, finishing tied for fourth at 5-under par. This included three consecutive rounds under par on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. His top-five finish this week marked his fifth in the last seven starts, not including a T8 last week at the Truist Championship.
Winner: Kurt Kitayama
Although Kurt Kitayama was in contention on Sunday, Kitayama ended his PGA Championship in style. He shot a closing bogey-free 7-under 63, which included birdies on the first three holes. His score also marked the best round of Sunday’s final round. As a result, he finished in xx place, marking his first top 10 at a major since the 2023 PGA Championship.
Loser: Bryson DeChambeau
For the second straight major championship and the third in the last four majors, Bryson DeChambeau failed to make the weekend. The LIV Golf star, who also missed the cut at the Masters last month, shot 6-over in the opening round. That included five bogeys and a double bogey. Although he finished his second round with three consecutive birdies, it was not enough.
Related: DeChambeau Drops Bombshell After LIV Collapse — Is This the End of Competitive Golf for Him?
Winner: Ben Kern
One of the beauties of the PGA Championship is that the PGA of America allows its professionals to compete in the major championship. Out of the 20 players who qualified for this week’s PGA Championship, Ben Kern was the only PGA Professional to make the cut. Kern, who teaches golf at Hickory Hills Golf Club in Grove City, Ohio, finished in XX place. His tournament was highlighted by recording a 5-under 67 during Friday’s windy conditions, marking the third-best score in the second round.
Loser: Garrick Higgo
Garrick Higgo was popular on Thursday, but for the wrong reasons. Because of the way the first and 10th tee boxes are set, players tee off from each hole every five minutes. (Normally on the PGA Tour, players tee off in 10-minute intervals.) However, Higgo, whose tee time was at 7:18 a.m. He showed up at the tee box one minute late. That 60-plus seconds of tardiness resulted in a two-stroke penalty. And because of the penalty, he missed the cut by one stroke.
