Jon Rahm shows true colours immediately after losing to Aaron Rai | Golf | Sport

Jon Rahm finished tied for second place at the PGA Championship on Sunday, three strokes behind champion Aaron Rai, and offered a candid assessment of the first-time major winner. LIV Golf star Rahm carded a two-under 68 on Sunday at Aronimink Golf Club as uncertainty surrounds his future following the PIF’s announcement that it would withdraw funding from the Saudi-backed circuit after the 2026 season.

Despite falling short of the title, Rahm appeared genuinely delighted that 31-year-old Rai had written his name into the history books. “I haven’t spent a lot of time with him,” said Rahm, referring to Rai. “But I have heard consistently there’s very few people that are nicer and kinder human beings than Aaron Rai.

“Anybody that wears or uses head covers in his irons because he coveted his irons when he was a kid so much that he wanted to respect the equipment so much, and to still do it? Yeah, exactly, he’s still doing it shows a lot about a person.”

Rai received widespread admiration from PGA Tour players for his genuine warmth and good nature, as he clinched victory on what many considered one of the most demanding course setups in recent memory. Rivals noted that the pin placements throughout the opening two rounds were bordering on unplayable.

“I think it got quite a bit firmer,” said Rahm following the final round. “Shots that maybe in the morning are a little easier to stop on greens, in the afternoon, especially towards the end, it becomes a little trickier.

“That combined with the greens getting a little bit slicker, it just becomes a little bit more difficult. Even though towards the end the wind did not die down, but it wasn’t as much as it’s been the last few days.

“I would say, again, the topic of all week has been the course setup, where the pin positions are placed, where they just managed to tuck them just enough to where, even if you hit a good shot, still makes you think. With the firmness and dryness, the moisture going away, fairways are harder to hit. Then it’s even harder to hit it close to the pin.”

Rahm has secured two major titles during his career and expressed pride in his performance at the season’s second major.

“I played really good golf,” added Rahm. “That’s the only way to look at it. Just wish I’d have done better with the speed of the greens. Just couldn’t seem to get it to the hole, and that’s the reason why I didn’t hole any more putts.

“Even though, even so, what Aaron did today, catching him could have been very difficult. I don’t know if could happen, but I would have liked a better chance playing the last two holes. I feel like I was still close on that play 16 until he made that long putt.”

Rai secured a lifetime exemption into the PGA Championship alongside a five-year exemption into the Masters, the US Open, The Open Championship and the PGA Tour. He also became the first English-born golfer to claim the PGA Championship in over a century.