"Thanks to his support, I was able to enjoy my golf education"
Aaron Rai, a name that’s becoming increasingly prominent in the world of golf, challenges the stereotype of the sport as an “old white man’s game”.
Born on March 3, 1995, Rai currently stands 22nd in the PGA Tour world rankings and boasts seven professional wins – a testament to his remarkable journey and talent.
As a British Asian golfer, Aaron Rai’s rise through the ranks showcases not just skill, but also determination and resilience.
Known for his unique style – sporting two gloves and iron head covers – he’s as recognisable on the course as he is respected.
Despite his growing fame, Rai remains celebrated for his humility and approachable character, traits that set him apart in the competitive world of professional golf.
We delve into Aaron Rai’s inspiring beginnings, his career milestones and the significance of his success as an ethnic minority in a sport still navigating the winds of change.
Early Life
Born and raised in Wolverhampton, Aaron Rai’s parents introduced him to golf. His mother, Dalvir Shukla, and father, Amrik Singh, were instrumental in Rai’s golfing career.
From an early age, he played with hockey sticks until his mother bought him a set of plastic clubs to play with so that he would not injure himself.
From this moment, his love for golf developed.
At age seven, his father bought him his first set of branded golf clubs – the Titleist 690 MBs.
Being a major tennis and sporting fan himself, Rai’s father encouraged all sporting acts made by his children.
His mother would take him to and from the range and even caddied for him.
Golf is notoriously an expensive sport, but people saw a spark in Aaron Rai.
It was at the first golf course Rai joined that he caught the attention of Shabir Randeree CBE, who owned the course at the time. Randeree soon became a major sponsor for Rai’s golfing career.
Expressing gratitude to Randeree, Rai said:
“Thanks to his support, I was able to enjoy my golf education without undue monetary pressure, but his belief in me and his spiritual support were equally important to me.”
Golfing Career
Aaron Rai has a close relationship with the online golf brand Me And My Golf, founded by PGA coaches Andy Proudman and Piers Ward.
Andy Proudman and Piers Ward have known Rai since he was three years old and officially started coaching him when he was 11.
They have worked with Rai on all aspects of his game, with particular focus on the mental side.
Rai is often seen wearing their clothing brands and representing his lifelong coaching team.
At age 15, Aaron Rai was endorsed by Lee Westwood and given putting tips. Rai ended up setting a world record, sinking 207 consecutive 10-foot putts.
At the US Kids Junior World Championships, Rai represented Team GB.
In 2012, Rai turned pro when he was 17. Looking back, he says there are “no regrets” with his decision.
Although it might have been too soon to turn pro, he admits that it was the best way to learn in the game.
In 2014 and 2015 he played on the PGA EuroPro Tour, consequently winning in 2015 at The Glenfarclas Open.
Rai’s breakthrough came in 2018 when he won his first European Tour event at The Hong Kong Open.
In 2020, he furthered his achievements with a victory at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open after a playoff with the household name Tommy Fleetwood.
Due to his performances, he got a place in the PGA Championship, the Open Championship and two World Championships.
A successful 2024 season saw Aaron Rai claim his maiden victory on the PGA Tour at the Wyndham Championship.
He also secured five other top-10 finishes as well as making 14 cuts in a row.
What is he known for?
One of the most frequent questions is why Aaron Rai wears two gloves.
On the Me and My Golf Podcast, Rai revealed that the gloves are more for practical reasons than for looks.
At around seven, he began wearing two gloves. Being born and raised in the UK, it was particularly cold and wet in the winter.
Rai wore two gloves to keep his hands warm and provide more grip in the wet conditions. From then on “it became such a habit that he just continued to wear them”.
Alongside his dual gloves, he also has covers for his irons, which is not unheard of, but is largely uncommon.
Rai’s father would meticulously clean his golf clubs with baby oil and a sewing pin, getting everything out of the grooves of the clubface.
According to Rai, his father taught him the “value of the equipment that I have and to respect what I have”.
He added that the iron covers are a reminder to “keep me grounded”.
Being an Ethnic Minority in the Golfing World
Golf is a famously expensive sport, with the average green fee at a top 100 golf course in the UK in 2024 being £220.
And this doesn’t count other factors like equipment and travel.
Golf can also be an intimidating sport to venture into if you are an ethnic minority.
So, who did Aaron Rai look up to?
Like many other people who watched him play, Tiger Woods was a huge inspiration for Rai.
Not only was it because he was winning everything but it was Woods’ dynamic and image that inspired Rai.
As a sportsman, Rai says there was “so much to admire” in watching Woods play.
He also greatly admires Jeev Milkha Singh, describing him as a “legend of Indian golf”.
Being grounded and having a connection to his familial roots, Rai’s heritage is often reflected in his golfing aspirations and achievements.
His mother is Kenyan-born and in 2017, she accompanied Rai to the Barclays Kenya Open, where she shared a career-winning moment with him as he secured victory.
Furthermore, with most of his family roots in Punjab, The Indian Open holds a certain significance to Rai.
As a golfer who doesn’t have ‘top’ priorities for his career, his main aim is to keep growing and improving in his gameplay year after year.
Aaron Rai admits that it is uncommon to see many British Asians or people of Asian heritage playing golf.
So he hopes he and other Indian-origin golfers like Akshay Bhatia and Sahith Theegala can boost representation in the sport for underrepresented communities.
From his humble background, the success story of Aaron Rai is a triumph and inspiration to all who know his incredible journey.
His humility on and off the course continues to shine through.
A respected golfer with a fantastic career, Aaron Rai is definitely one to watch in the coming years.
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