Could major win push Rai to Ryder Cup? 'He was in the conversation last time!'

The centenary edition of the biennial contest may still be 16 months away, live on Sky Sports, but Aaron Rai's impressive PGA Championship victory has pushed him as an early contender to force a Ryder Cup debut.

Rai's three-shot victory at Aronimink Golf Club saw him become the first English winner of the Wanamaker Trophy in 107 years and move to a career-high of world No 15, with the success marking the first time in the modern era that the first two majors were claimed by Europeans.

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The 31-year-old has been in contention to feature in previous Ryder Cups for Team Europe, with vice-captain Edoardo Molinari now expecting him to be in consideration again for the 2027 contest.

"There were, to be fair, a lot of guys in contention [for the 2025 Ryder Cup], including Aaron [Rai], including Harry Hall, Marco Penge - you can name five or six of them," Molinari told the Sky Sports Golf podcast.

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"I think it [why he didn't get picked] was a combination of things. We had a lot of the guys from Rome playing really well. Rasmus [Hojgaard] qualified almost on the very last event. Noren was the vice-captain, but he could have been playing as well.

"We had a list of five, six, seven guys and he was in the conversation for sure. It's so difficult to make a Ryder Cup team and it's even more difficult to make it as a rookie when you're playing away - there's a lot more that goes into it.

"It was a shame that he wasn't there the last time but I'm sure, if he keeps playing the way he is now, he'll be at Adare Manor."

'You could see he was special' - childhood coach backs Rai's Ryder Cup bid

Rai was described as a golfing prodigy as a child and was seen making a hole-in-one by the age of five, with childhood coach Darren Prosser supporting him through the early years of his rise to major stardom.

"You always imagined that he would turn pro and have a nice career," Prosser told Sky Sports. "I would have loved to have thought he was going to win a major, but he's just developed so well the last few years.

"Every tournament he's played in at the majors, he has appeared on the first page of the leaderboard more and more. He can hit all the shots, and he hasn't got a weakness in his game.

"I was just delighted he went all the way last night and saw it through. You could see he was going to be a special, a special kid, and how dedicated he was. I'm so happy for him.

"Hopefully, he keeps pushing on and makes the Ryder Cup. That'll be another massive milestone in his game, I'm sure. The way he finished it off [PGA Championship victory] was great."

Rai claimed his DP World Tour breakthrough at the 2018 Hong Kong Open and added the 2020 Scottish Open, then followed a maiden PGA Tour win at the Wyndham Championship in 2024 with a play-off success at last November's Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship before major glory.

"I think he's the only player I know that was able to improve his game for eight consecutive years," Molinari added. "If you look at his strokes-gained total back in 2018, he then got a bit better in 2019, a bit better in 2020 and every year he's been improving.

"That's unheard of at any level, but let alone at the very top of the game."

Rai takes plaudits from Europe's Ryder Cup stars

Just 13 players have been used by Team Europe across the previous two Ryder Cup victories, with the only change between the 16.5-11.5 win in Rome and the 15-13 win in New York being Rasmus Hojgaard replacing twin brother Nicolai.

The nucleus of Donald's line-up from the two victories is likely to remain next year, along with many of the backroom team, although many of Team Europe's star names are fully aware of Rai's credentials.

"You won't find one person on property who's not happy for him [winning]," said Rory McIlroy, who finished five strokes behind Rai.

Jon Rahm, who will likely make a fifth consecutive Ryder Cup appearance after settling his long-standing fines dispute with the DP World Tour, added: "I have heard consistently there's very few people that are nicer and kinder human beings than Aaron Rai.

"I have heard absolutely nothing but good or great things about Aaron. He's been playing great golf. He's a fantastic golfer. He's been able to perform really well. What he did [win] is nothing short of special."

Donald's meticulous planning has been previously praised for how he prepared Team Europe to successive wins, with two-time major winner Xander Schauffele also seeing hard-working traits in Rai.

"Rarely do you feel like people work way harder than you," Schauffele said. "Aaron is always there - he's always in the gym, he's always on the range. I'm super happy for him. He's such a good dude.

"I think that's what it's about to be a major champion - you put the work in when nobody's looking. Super pumped for him and his team. He's such a nice guy. All world gentleman, no doubt."

More majors for Rai before Ryder Cup push?

Rai's victory earns him a lifetime exemption into the PGA Championship and secures his major status for at least the next five seasons, with former coach Prosser backing him to build on the during the final two majors of the year.

"The way he finished it off was great, so lots of belief," Prosser added. "If they [US Open at Shinnecock Hills and The Open at Royal Birkdale] get running pretty fast, the way he plays now technically, that's going to play into his hands."

Rai is just the fourth Englishman this century to enjoy major success - following on from Justin Rose, Danny Willett and Matt Fitzpatrick. All three of those went on to feature in the following Ryder Cup for Team Europe - it would be no surprise to see Rai follow suit.

"I try not to consciously focus on it [Ryder Cup] too much," Rai said in his victory press conference. "These things are always around, whether it's Ryder Cup, whether it's the next event, whether it's the next major.

"Those are things that you can never completely ignore, but I try not to focus on them as real motivations to push me forward. I hope to continue to move in a pretty similar way in terms of practice, training, application towards the game, and we'll see where that takes me."

Watch Aaron Rai in action at the US Open (June 18-21) and The Open (July 18-21) exclusively live on Sky Sports. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract.