The Four Bogeys Aaron Rai Made That Nobody's Talking About But Led To A Major Championship

Alright, listen up, Seattle! We just saw Aaron Rai, the 31-year-old Englishman, snatch his first major title, the PGA Championship, and honestly, the way he got there? It's wild. You might think his fifth-place finish at last month's Myrtle Beach Classic was a letdown, especially since he was leading heading into the weekend. But according to Rai himself, that "disappointment" was "massively" important for his PGA win, an "invaluable" lesson he needed to learn. Get ready, because he's bringing that same intensity to one of his favorite courses, Muirfield Village, for the Memorial Tournament this week, and we gotta see what happens.

Turns Out, Losing Taught Him Everything

Seriously, this dude's mindset is something else! Rai told the press that hitting that final group at Myrtle Beach was huge because he hadn't been in that spot for at least five months. Talk about needing to shake off the rust! But it wasn't just the nerves of being in contention. He pinpointed "small things" from that final round that really sharpened him up for the PGA Championship. Picture this: "bits from the crowd," yep, even that stuff. And get this, he made "four bogeys in a row around the turn." He said that stretch showed him where his mind went, and "certain things that I could have dealt with better." That experience was so fresh, so raw, that it allowed him to make crucial adjustments for the PGA. He was "very aware" of those moments even on the Saturday of the PGA. It's like he hit rock bottom just to find the launchpad, and it clearly worked!

Muirfield: Where Rai Needs to Prove It All Over Again

Now, Rai's gotta take those lessons to Muirfield Village, a course he calls "amazing" and "absolutely incredible," even one of his favorites on the PGA Tour. But here's the kicker: it’s also one of his toughest. He's played it three times before, this will be his fourth Tour start, and while he finished T26 back in 2022, he missed the cut in both 2023 and 2025. Ouch. He even dropped a 9-over-par last year with rounds of 79 and 74. He admits he hasn't always done the best job with his preparation, especially last year. This course is no joke, requiring a "complete game" from everyone. He knows it’s "really hard," but he's here slightly earlier this week to tackle those past mistakes head-on. This week at Muirfield is going to be a true test for our PGA champ. He's not just playing against the course, but against his own history here, and oh yeah, two-time defending champion and World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. Scheffler crushed it last year with a 10-under finish, a four-stroke lead over Ben Griffin. Can Rai apply those hard-won lessons from Myrtle Beach and his previous Muirfield struggles to make a real run? You know we'll be watching every shot, hoping he puts everything together this weekend. Let's go!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.