Aaron Rai surprised as starstruck fans say hi on shopping trips after US PGA win

Aaron Rai does not feel any different now he is a major champion but his newfound fame means he now gets recognised during the weekly supermarket shop.

The Englishman was a 150-1 outsider going into last month’s US PGA Championship before going on to win by three shots, holding off the challenge of two double major winners Jon Rahm and Justin Thomas.

Rai was a low-profile player on the PGA Tour, where he had won just once before in two years ago, before his success at Aronimink but the unassuming Wolverhampton golfer is having to adjust to a new level of celebrity.

“I went to the supermarket on Tuesday evening (after his win) and I wasn’t even in golf clothes and it happened a couple of times, which never normally happens,” said the 31-year-old, who went to Perton Primary School and Wolverhampton Grammar School. “A couple of customers were just doing their regular grocery shopping came over and congratulated me on the PGA and the performance.

“And when I got to the golf course on Wednesday it took me a while to get from the parking lot to the practice area. That definitely felt a little bit different.”

Rai - who learned to play at 3 Hammers Golf Complex and Patshull Park - does not think his major breakthrough has changed him but admits he frequently allows his mind to wander back to that Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia.

“I think the Royal Family in England had posted on Twitter about the PGA Championship, which was a real surprise,” he added ahead of his return at this week’s Memorial Tournament, hosted by 18-time major winner Jack Nicklaus.

“There are definitely times where it’s crossed my mind of winning a major and what that means and other times where I haven’t thought about it for a few hours while I’m practising and then it hits me and it’s like, ‘wow, that’s incredible’.

“Those internal thoughts have definitely happened but I haven’t felt any different as a golfer. I think a little bit of time will tell.”

Rai has spoken previously about his father Amrik’s influence on his career so their reunion at his Jacksonville home after his victory was particularly emotional.

“My dad is a very proud man. He doesn’t show a huge amount of emotions but the first evening that I saw him his hug was a little bit different. His smile was a little bit different,” said Rai.

“We spoke for a couple of hours or so (about) just how big an achievement that was and I could probably hear it more from what I associate with how he is normally and how he was during those first couple of days.

“That definitely held a lot of weight for me internally.”