Aaron Rai responds to Ryder Cup talk

Such is the relentless nature of golf at the highest level, Aaron Rai has still barely had chance to reflect on his maiden PGA Tour victory.

Three days on from shooting a sublime final round 64 to win the Wyndham Championship, the Englishman’s attention has already turned to the looming FedEx Cup Playoffs.

Rai’s epic victory on Sunday – complete with a birdie on his final hole as darkness descended on Sedgefield Country Club – has lifted him to No.25 in the FedEx Cup standings, and he is now in position to finish a whirlwind season at the lucrative Tour Championship finale at East Lake.

Speaking to a small group of reporters ahead of this week’s FedEx St. Jude Championship, Rai was finally able to sit down and pause for thought.

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“It’s so busy schedule wise that it’s very tricky to make that time to really sit down and reflect on on the whole journey,” he admitted. “But there are little pockets of time. Little moments like being in the score recording after finishing on the Sunday where I felt very, very emotional.

“Just thinking about my parents and how how big of an achievement it is to win, to win on the PGA Tour. I know it’s it’s incredible to to come from Wolverhampton and from pretty humble beginnings to to even be competing here. So I’m very fortunate and grateful for that.”

Rai’s story is an inspirational one. Growing up in a working class family in the Midlands, he famously used iron head covers to protect the precious Titleist clubs that his father saved to buy him when he was a child.

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“I’ve pretty much had iron covers on all my sets ever since, just to kind of appreciate the value of what I have,” he said.

And while he will never forget his proud roots, Rai really has come so far. The victory in North Carolina moves him to No.22 in the Official World Golf Rankings, ahead of the likes of Matt Fitzpatrick, Justin Thomas and Jason Day – just to name a few.

The Wyndham success was no bolt from the blue either, after six top-ten finishes in a breakthrough season marked by consistency.

It’s no surprise then, that Rai is already being talked about as a European Ryder Cup contender for Bethpage Black in 13 months’ time. He now has entry into each of the PGA Tour’s Signature Events in 2025, a crucial platform for his hopes of earning enough points to make the team.

“The Ryder Cup would be something amazing to be a part of, but it’s also such a long way away from now,” he says. “Still over a year away from that. A lot of it is down to how well you’re playing in the run up to the Ryder Cup.

“I think continuing to improve and seeing progression in the game and that manifesting itself in the form of results is incredibly positive and and very satisfying.

“If I continue to do that, then I give myself chances for other things to fall into place in the future. Obviously that would be amazing to be a part of that in the future. Whether that’s next year or beyond that, but it’s still such a long way away right now.”

Rai isn’t getting too carried away – he never has – but he is very grateful for the overwhelming support he has been shown by European skipper Luke Donald during his rise.

“[Luke] sent me a message on on Monday morning, which which was very kind of him,” he revealed. “He’s been very good to me as well over the last year, 18 months or so, I’ve spent a little bit of time with him.

“He’s always been very giving with his advice. He’s he’s been very, very gracious to me.”

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.