The problem Aaron Rai had in practice before winning the PGA Championship which very few people know

The problem Aaron Rai had on the practice range before winning the PGA Championship

Rai looked completely comfortable at Aronimink on Sunday at the PGA Championship, but before the tournament he had a nagging issue at the practice range.

According to his coach, Piers Ward, Rai was struggling with an injury during the week’s build up to the event. Speaking to Dan Rapaport on Dan on Golf, he said, “With his preparation, not many people know this, but he barely hit any balls on the range Monday-Wednesday on the range [he hit only 22 balls before his final round].

“He has been injured. He has had a stiff neck so he has had to pull out of a few events this year and has been managing that. He had a stiff neck when he woke up on Monday morning, so we literally just chipped and putted, Tuesday was a full day but Wednesday he woke up and his back was stiff, so we literally just did some putting.

“Normally the lack of preparation would freak him out, but we were really calm and said ‘look, you’re in great shape, technically you are really good’, you have already had two days at the course a couple of weeks ago, the golf course is perfect for you as it’s fast running fairways and thick rough.

“This is your game. And then he has just done what he has done, and it still hasn’t sunk in.”

Thanks goodness Rai was able to battle through these injuries and compete at the PGA Championship, because he produced one of the most incredible upsets in major championship history.