Episode

Aaron Rai: From Wolverhampton to major champion

Podcast
More than the Score
Published
May 21, 2026
Duration seconds
1024
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0nmjwxx
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Markdown
/podcast/more-than-the-score-7480348/aaron-rai-from-wolverhampton-to-major-champion.md

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Summary

Aaron Rai wasn't one of the favourites for this year's US PGA tournament - the second of the sport's four men's majors. But on the final day of the championship, the Englishman slowly emerged from a huge pack of contenders to top the leaderboard. Showing no nerves, he held off the likes of Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas to take his first major title, finishing three shots clear of the field. So where did he come from, and where might he go next? More than the Score's Ade Adedoyin hears from Rai's childhood coach, Darren Prosser, about how a Formula One-loving child from Wolverhampton found a passion for golf, and the sacrifices Aaron's parents made to support his progress in the game. Darren also discusses how much Rai's roots in the Midlands, India and Kenya mean to him. Ade's also joined by Iain Carter, the BBC's golf correspondent, who says that Rai's victory at the US PGA wasn't necessarily a shock, after several years of steady progress up the ranks. He also explains how a steady temperament, and some idiosyncratic habits, have been key to his rise. Every Monday to Friday, More than the Score tells stories beyond the scoreline from all over the world of sport. From Formula One to netball, MMA to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes like Tour de France winner Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, Winter Olympic champion Elana Meyers Taylor, trailblazing Samoan athlete Alex Rose and cricket superstar Smriti Mandhana, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own…