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Deadspin | Nolan Arenado, Michael Soroka carry D-backs over Jays  Apr 17, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) crosses home plate after hitting a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fourth inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images   Nolan Arenado homered for the third time in four games and drove in two, Michael Soroka won his fourth game and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 in Phoenix on Friday.  Arenado had two hits, and his two-out RBI single for a 5-2 lead capped a two-run seventh inning kept alive on first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s two-out fielding error.  Soroka (4-0) gave up two runs and five hits in a season-long seven innings, with five strikeouts and no walks. He has more wins this season than in the previous five years combined, when he missed extended time with Achilles tendon, arm and shoulder injuries.  Ketel Marte had two hits and scored twice and Corbin Carroll and Jose Fernandez had run-scoring singles for the Diamondbacks, who have won nine of 12.  The D-Backs have won 12 games since March 30. NL West rival San Diego had won 12 in that span entering Friday.  Myles Straw had two hits, including his first homer, and Guerrero had an RBI single for the Blue Jays, who have lost five of six and 11 of 14.  Guerrero singled in a run in the eighth inning to make it 5-3 before Tim Tawa doubled in an insurance run in the Arizona half.    Paul Sewald pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for this seventh save.  Arizona second baseman Ildemaro Vargas singled to extend his season-opening hitting streak to 13 games, the longest such streak in franchise history. He has a 16-game hitting streak dating to last September.  Eric Lauer (1-3) gave up three runs and five hits in three innings, with four strikeouts and one walk. He entered in the second inning after Braydon Fisher pitched a scoreless first.   Straw and Jesus Sanchez singled to put runners on the corners with one out in the fourth before Lenyn Sosa’s sacrifice bunt drove in Straw for a 1-0 lead.  Arenado’s 382-foot homer tied it with two outs in the fourth. Carroll and Fernandez had RBI singles off Lauer in the fifth for a 3-1 lead.   Straw’s homer in the sixth cut the Blue Jays’ deficit to 3-2. Straw entered the game in the bottom of the third to replace center fielder Daulton Varsho, who was removed with left knee discomfort.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Nolan #Arenado #Michael #Soroka #carry #Dbacks #Jays

Deadspin | Nolan Arenado, Michael Soroka carry D-backs over Jays
Deadspin | Nolan Arenado, Michael Soroka carry D-backs over Jays  Apr 17, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) crosses home plate after hitting a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fourth inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images   Nolan Arenado homered for the third time in four games and drove in two, Michael Soroka won his fourth game and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 in Phoenix on Friday.  Arenado had two hits, and his two-out RBI single for a 5-2 lead capped a two-run seventh inning kept alive on first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s two-out fielding error.  Soroka (4-0) gave up two runs and five hits in a season-long seven innings, with five strikeouts and no walks. He has more wins this season than in the previous five years combined, when he missed extended time with Achilles tendon, arm and shoulder injuries.  Ketel Marte had two hits and scored twice and Corbin Carroll and Jose Fernandez had run-scoring singles for the Diamondbacks, who have won nine of 12.  The D-Backs have won 12 games since March 30. NL West rival San Diego had won 12 in that span entering Friday.  Myles Straw had two hits, including his first homer, and Guerrero had an RBI single for the Blue Jays, who have lost five of six and 11 of 14.  Guerrero singled in a run in the eighth inning to make it 5-3 before Tim Tawa doubled in an insurance run in the Arizona half.    Paul Sewald pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for this seventh save.  Arizona second baseman Ildemaro Vargas singled to extend his season-opening hitting streak to 13 games, the longest such streak in franchise history. He has a 16-game hitting streak dating to last September.  Eric Lauer (1-3) gave up three runs and five hits in three innings, with four strikeouts and one walk. He entered in the second inning after Braydon Fisher pitched a scoreless first.   Straw and Jesus Sanchez singled to put runners on the corners with one out in the fourth before Lenyn Sosa’s sacrifice bunt drove in Straw for a 1-0 lead.  Arenado’s 382-foot homer tied it with two outs in the fourth. Carroll and Fernandez had RBI singles off Lauer in the fifth for a 3-1 lead.   Straw’s homer in the sixth cut the Blue Jays’ deficit to 3-2. Straw entered the game in the bottom of the third to replace center fielder Daulton Varsho, who was removed with left knee discomfort.  –Field Level Media    #Deadspin #Nolan #Arenado #Michael #Soroka #carry #Dbacks #JaysApr 17, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) crosses home plate after hitting a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fourth inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

Nolan Arenado homered for the third time in four games and drove in two, Michael Soroka won his fourth game and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 in Phoenix on Friday.

Arenado had two hits, and his two-out RBI single for a 5-2 lead capped a two-run seventh inning kept alive on first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s two-out fielding error.

Soroka (4-0) gave up two runs and five hits in a season-long seven innings, with five strikeouts and no walks. He has more wins this season than in the previous five years combined, when he missed extended time with Achilles tendon, arm and shoulder injuries.

Ketel Marte had two hits and scored twice and Corbin Carroll and Jose Fernandez had run-scoring singles for the Diamondbacks, who have won nine of 12.

The D-Backs have won 12 games since March 30. NL West rival San Diego had won 12 in that span entering Friday.

Myles Straw had two hits, including his first homer, and Guerrero had an RBI single for the Blue Jays, who have lost five of six and 11 of 14.


Guerrero singled in a run in the eighth inning to make it 5-3 before Tim Tawa doubled in an insurance run in the Arizona half.

Paul Sewald pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for this seventh save.

Arizona second baseman Ildemaro Vargas singled to extend his season-opening hitting streak to 13 games, the longest such streak in franchise history. He has a 16-game hitting streak dating to last September.

Eric Lauer (1-3) gave up three runs and five hits in three innings, with four strikeouts and one walk. He entered in the second inning after Braydon Fisher pitched a scoreless first.

Straw and Jesus Sanchez singled to put runners on the corners with one out in the fourth before Lenyn Sosa’s sacrifice bunt drove in Straw for a 1-0 lead.

Arenado’s 382-foot homer tied it with two outs in the fourth. Carroll and Fernandez had RBI singles off Lauer in the fifth for a 3-1 lead.

Straw’s homer in the sixth cut the Blue Jays’ deficit to 3-2. Straw entered the game in the bottom of the third to replace center fielder Daulton Varsho, who was removed with left knee discomfort.


–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Nolan #Arenado #Michael #Soroka #carry #Dbacks #Jays

Apr 17, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) crosses home plate after hitting a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fourth inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

Nolan Arenado homered for the third time in four games and drove in two, Michael Soroka won his fourth game and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-3 in Phoenix on Friday.

Arenado had two hits, and his two-out RBI single for a 5-2 lead capped a two-run seventh inning kept alive on first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s two-out fielding error.

Soroka (4-0) gave up two runs and five hits in a season-long seven innings, with five strikeouts and no walks. He has more wins this season than in the previous five years combined, when he missed extended time with Achilles tendon, arm and shoulder injuries.

Ketel Marte had two hits and scored twice and Corbin Carroll and Jose Fernandez had run-scoring singles for the Diamondbacks, who have won nine of 12.

The D-Backs have won 12 games since March 30. NL West rival San Diego had won 12 in that span entering Friday.

Myles Straw had two hits, including his first homer, and Guerrero had an RBI single for the Blue Jays, who have lost five of six and 11 of 14.

Guerrero singled in a run in the eighth inning to make it 5-3 before Tim Tawa doubled in an insurance run in the Arizona half.

Paul Sewald pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for this seventh save.

Arizona second baseman Ildemaro Vargas singled to extend his season-opening hitting streak to 13 games, the longest such streak in franchise history. He has a 16-game hitting streak dating to last September.

Eric Lauer (1-3) gave up three runs and five hits in three innings, with four strikeouts and one walk. He entered in the second inning after Braydon Fisher pitched a scoreless first.

Straw and Jesus Sanchez singled to put runners on the corners with one out in the fourth before Lenyn Sosa’s sacrifice bunt drove in Straw for a 1-0 lead.

Arenado’s 382-foot homer tied it with two outs in the fourth. Carroll and Fernandez had RBI singles off Lauer in the fifth for a 3-1 lead.

Straw’s homer in the sixth cut the Blue Jays’ deficit to 3-2. Straw entered the game in the bottom of the third to replace center fielder Daulton Varsho, who was removed with left knee discomfort.

–Field Level Media

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NBA: Steph Curry fails to fire as Warriors lose to Sun; Magic routs Hornets <div id="content-body-70876921" itemprop="articleBody"><p>Phoenix Suns ended Golden State Warriors’ season and Orlando Magic thrashed Charlotte Hornets as the NBA playoffs’ final teams were decided Friday.</p><p>Jalen Green put in a dazzling performance with 36 points, including eight triples, to secure the Western Conference No. 8 seed for Phoenix with a 111-96 win over Stephen Curry’s Warriors.</p><p>The Suns got off to a bright start with a 33-15 lead in the first quarter, before the Warriors cut the deficit to five points at half-time.</p><p>But the Suns still managed to keep the wasteful Warriors at arms’ length, successfully limiting veteran superstar Curry to just 17 points.</p><p>With barely a minute left, Jordan Goodwin intercepted a pass intended for Curry, and scored a transition bucket, before adding a three on the Suns’ next possession to secure the win.</p><p>Victory set up a first-round playoff clash for the Suns against Oklahoma City Thunder, the defending NBA champion.</p><p>“Happy as hell. We came out fire, we knew this was a do-or-die game,” said Green, who added six rebounds and four assists.</p><p>For the injury-plagued and ageing Warriors, who won the NBA title in 2022, it was a disappointing end to a third consecutive season in the play-in tournament, crashing out before the playoffs as they did in 2024.</p><p>In fiery late scenes, two Warriors players — Draymond Green and Devin Booker — were ejected from the court, with Green continuing to taunt the home Suns’ fans as he departed.</p><h4 class="sub_head">Magic outmuscle Hornets</h4><p>The Magic beat the Hornets 121-90 to keep their season alive and set up a daunting first-round playoff series against the Eastern Conference top-seeded Detroit Pistons.</p><p>Paolo Banchero top-scored with 25 points in the Magic’s last chance to qualify for the post-season via the play-in tournament, having failed at their first attempt against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday.</p><p>A physical, tough Magic outfit outmuscled the youthful Hornets from the tip-off of the win-or-go-home game in front of a sell-out 19,000 home crowd at the Magic’s Kia Canter.</p><p>Banchero bulldozed Hornets’ defence, scoring 12 in the first quarter alone.</p><p>Having never trailed by more than a single point, the Magic soon stretched comfortably clear, establishing a giant 35-point lead shortly before half-time.</p><p>Recovering from a sluggish start, LaMelo Bell — the hero of the Hornets’ first play-in game against Miami on Tuesday —exploded after the break.</p><p>He poured in 21 points in the third quarter alone as he tried to single-handedly extend the Hornets’ season.</p><p>But the Magic’s lead never dipped below 20 points, as they eased to a win against a the Hornets who had finished the regular season in strong form.</p><p>Victory ensured the Magic have reached the playoffs for the third straight season, while the Hornets’ decade-long wait goes on.</p><p>The NBA playoffs begin Saturday.</p><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 18, 2026</p></div> #NBA #Steph #Curry #fails #fire #Warriors #lose #Sun #Magic #routs #Hornets

Iran’s national football team was headed to Turkey on Monday to play a final friendly match before flying to the United States for the 2026 World Cup, the country’s media reported.

“The Iranian national football team… departed this morning for Antalya, Turkey, to play its final friendly match before flying to the United States for the 2026 World Cup,” the Tasnim news agency reported.

It said the squad consisted of 22 domestic-based players alongside their coaching staff.

On Saturday, head coach Amir Ghalenoei said they would also be completing visa applications for the US while in Turkey.

The team’s participation in the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, comes amid a fragile ceasefire between Iran and the US which paused 40 days of war that began on February 28.

The US cut diplomatic ties with Iran in 1980 following the Islamic Revolution and the hostage crisis at the American embassy.

Iran hopes to play two friendlies in Antalya.

The side has already confirmed one match, against Gambia, on May 29, said Sam Mehdizadeh, an Iranian-Canadian who heads a company that sets up friendlies for the team.

READ: Preliminary Iran squad for FIFA World Cup 2026—Sardar Azmoun left out

“No visas have been issued yet,” Mehdi Taj, the Iran football federation head, told Iranian media on Thursday.

Taj said players were expected to undergo fingerprinting in Turkey as part of the visa process but wished to avoid a trip of more than 380 kilometres from Antalya to Ankara.

On Saturday, FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom held a meeting in Turkey with the Iranian federation, describing it as excellent and constructive.

Taj also described Saturday’s meeting as “positive and constructive” without going into details.

When the squad reaches the United States, Iran will set up its base camp in Tucson, Arizona.

The team, which is in Group G, is due to kick off its World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15 before facing Belgium in the same city and then Egypt in Seattle.

Published on May 18, 2026

#Irans #World #Cup #football #team #leaves #Turkey #reports">Iran’s World Cup football team leaves for Turkey – reports  Iran’s national football team was headed to Turkey on Monday to play a final friendly match before flying to the United States for the 2026 World Cup, the country’s media reported.“The Iranian national football team… departed this morning for Antalya, Turkey, to play its final friendly match before flying to the United States for the 2026 World Cup,” the        Tasnim news agency reported.It said the squad consisted of 22 domestic-based players alongside their coaching staff.On Saturday, head coach Amir Ghalenoei said they would also be completing visa applications for the US while in Turkey.The team’s participation in the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, comes amid a fragile ceasefire between Iran and the US which paused 40 days of war that began on February 28.The US cut diplomatic ties with Iran in 1980 following the Islamic Revolution and the hostage crisis at the American embassy.Iran hopes to play two friendlies in Antalya.The side has already confirmed one match, against Gambia, on May 29, said Sam Mehdizadeh, an Iranian-Canadian who heads a company that sets up friendlies for the team.READ: Preliminary Iran squad for FIFA World Cup 2026—Sardar Azmoun left out“No visas have been issued yet,” Mehdi Taj, the Iran football federation head, told Iranian media on Thursday.Taj said players were expected to undergo fingerprinting in Turkey as part of the visa process but wished to avoid a trip of more than 380 kilometres from Antalya to Ankara.On Saturday, FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom held a meeting in Turkey with the Iranian federation, describing it as excellent and constructive.Taj also described Saturday’s meeting as “positive and constructive” without going into details.When the squad reaches the United States, Iran will set up its base camp in Tucson, Arizona.The team, which is in Group G, is due to kick off its World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15 before facing Belgium in the same city and then Egypt in Seattle.Published on May 18, 2026  #Irans #World #Cup #football #team #leaves #Turkey #reports

Preliminary Iran squad for FIFA World Cup 2026—Sardar Azmoun left out

“No visas have been issued yet,” Mehdi Taj, the Iran football federation head, told Iranian media on Thursday.

Taj said players were expected to undergo fingerprinting in Turkey as part of the visa process but wished to avoid a trip of more than 380 kilometres from Antalya to Ankara.

On Saturday, FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom held a meeting in Turkey with the Iranian federation, describing it as excellent and constructive.

Taj also described Saturday’s meeting as “positive and constructive” without going into details.

When the squad reaches the United States, Iran will set up its base camp in Tucson, Arizona.

The team, which is in Group G, is due to kick off its World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15 before facing Belgium in the same city and then Egypt in Seattle.

Published on May 18, 2026

#Irans #World #Cup #football #team #leaves #Turkey #reports">Iran’s World Cup football team leaves for Turkey – reports

Iran’s national football team was headed to Turkey on Monday to play a final friendly match before flying to the United States for the 2026 World Cup, the country’s media reported.

“The Iranian national football team… departed this morning for Antalya, Turkey, to play its final friendly match before flying to the United States for the 2026 World Cup,” the Tasnim news agency reported.

It said the squad consisted of 22 domestic-based players alongside their coaching staff.

On Saturday, head coach Amir Ghalenoei said they would also be completing visa applications for the US while in Turkey.

The team’s participation in the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, comes amid a fragile ceasefire between Iran and the US which paused 40 days of war that began on February 28.

The US cut diplomatic ties with Iran in 1980 following the Islamic Revolution and the hostage crisis at the American embassy.

Iran hopes to play two friendlies in Antalya.

The side has already confirmed one match, against Gambia, on May 29, said Sam Mehdizadeh, an Iranian-Canadian who heads a company that sets up friendlies for the team.

READ: Preliminary Iran squad for FIFA World Cup 2026—Sardar Azmoun left out

“No visas have been issued yet,” Mehdi Taj, the Iran football federation head, told Iranian media on Thursday.

Taj said players were expected to undergo fingerprinting in Turkey as part of the visa process but wished to avoid a trip of more than 380 kilometres from Antalya to Ankara.

On Saturday, FIFA secretary general Mattias Grafstrom held a meeting in Turkey with the Iranian federation, describing it as excellent and constructive.

Taj also described Saturday’s meeting as “positive and constructive” without going into details.

When the squad reaches the United States, Iran will set up its base camp in Tucson, Arizona.

The team, which is in Group G, is due to kick off its World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15 before facing Belgium in the same city and then Egypt in Seattle.

Published on May 18, 2026

#Irans #World #Cup #football #team #leaves #Turkey #reports
Deadspin | Aaron Rai emerges to win first major; 1st Englishman to win PGA since 1919  May 17, 2026; Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, USA; Aaron Rai reacts on the first green during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images   NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — Aaron Rai drained a series of increasingly long putts to write himself into the history books and win his first major title Sunday at the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club.  Rai made a 40-foot eagle putt at the par-5 ninth hole to cap an uneven first nine, then pulled away with four birdies on the back and converted a remarkable 68 1/2-foot birdie at the par-3 17th to remove any doubt.  Rai, 31, is the first Englishman to win the PGA Championship since Jim Barnes in 1919. Americans had claimed this major each of the last 10 years.  Rai’s 5-under-par 65 put him 9-under 271 and three strokes ahead of Jon Rahm of Spain (68) and Alex Smalley. He had started the day in a five-way tie for second behind Smalley.  The first English major winner since Matt Fitzpatrick took the 2022 U.S. Open title, Rai was one of several less familiar names on the 54-hole leaderboard. But he was ranked No. 44 in the world entering the week, with one win on the PGA Tour and three more on the DP World Tour for his career.  He previously had not finished better than T19 at a major.  Rai’s putter was far from the only club working for him. He gave himself 4-foot birdies with tight approaches at Nos. 1 and 11, though he overshot the greens at Nos. 3 and 6 to lead to two of his three front-nine bogeys.  Everything turned when Rai lined up his eagle putt at No. 9. He left in the pin for the downhill, left-to-right putt and it tracked perfectly into the hole.   The birdie at No. 11 drew Rai even with Germany’s Matti Schmid, and he became the first player to touch 7 under all week at the short par-4 13th. Rai’s tee shot went in the front-right bunker, but he got his 39-yard sand shot to stop inside 7 feet to set up birdie.  Justin Thomas went into the clubhouse at 5-under 275 at about 3:05 p.m. local time, and that held up for most of the afternoon as players battled Aronimink’s more demanding back nine.  Smalley, Rahm, Rai and Schmid each held at least a share of the lead at 6 under at some point. Smalley — seeking his first professional win of any kind — irreparably harmed his chances with a messy double bogey at the par-4 sixth and a bogey at No. 8.  Schmid, playing in the final pairing with Smalley and also winless on the PGA Tour, took the lead from him at No. 6 when he got a 19 1/2-foot birdie to fall. But his bogey on No. 10 opened the door for Rai.  Rai was one of the only players who managed to tame the back nine. Northern Ireland star Rory McIlroy could not muster a late rally, posting 69 and landing at 4 under.  Reigning champion and World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler had a ho-hum 69 and finished seven behind Rai at 2 under.  –Adam Zielonka, Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Aaron #Rai #emerges #win #major #1st #Englishman #win #PGAMay 17, 2026; Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, USA; Aaron Rai reacts on the first green during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — Aaron Rai drained a series of increasingly long putts to write himself into the history books and win his first major title Sunday at the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club.

Rai made a 40-foot eagle putt at the par-5 ninth hole to cap an uneven first nine, then pulled away with four birdies on the back and converted a remarkable 68 1/2-foot birdie at the par-3 17th to remove any doubt.

Rai, 31, is the first Englishman to win the PGA Championship since Jim Barnes in 1919. Americans had claimed this major each of the last 10 years.

Rai’s 5-under-par 65 put him 9-under 271 and three strokes ahead of Jon Rahm of Spain (68) and Alex Smalley. He had started the day in a five-way tie for second behind Smalley.

The first English major winner since Matt Fitzpatrick took the 2022 U.S. Open title, Rai was one of several less familiar names on the 54-hole leaderboard. But he was ranked No. 44 in the world entering the week, with one win on the PGA Tour and three more on the DP World Tour for his career.

He previously had not finished better than T19 at a major.

Rai’s putter was far from the only club working for him. He gave himself 4-foot birdies with tight approaches at Nos. 1 and 11, though he overshot the greens at Nos. 3 and 6 to lead to two of his three front-nine bogeys.


Everything turned when Rai lined up his eagle putt at No. 9. He left in the pin for the downhill, left-to-right putt and it tracked perfectly into the hole.

The birdie at No. 11 drew Rai even with Germany’s Matti Schmid, and he became the first player to touch 7 under all week at the short par-4 13th. Rai’s tee shot went in the front-right bunker, but he got his 39-yard sand shot to stop inside 7 feet to set up birdie.

Justin Thomas went into the clubhouse at 5-under 275 at about 3:05 p.m. local time, and that held up for most of the afternoon as players battled Aronimink’s more demanding back nine.

Smalley, Rahm, Rai and Schmid each held at least a share of the lead at 6 under at some point. Smalley — seeking his first professional win of any kind — irreparably harmed his chances with a messy double bogey at the par-4 sixth and a bogey at No. 8.

Schmid, playing in the final pairing with Smalley and also winless on the PGA Tour, took the lead from him at No. 6 when he got a 19 1/2-foot birdie to fall. But his bogey on No. 10 opened the door for Rai.

Rai was one of the only players who managed to tame the back nine. Northern Ireland star Rory McIlroy could not muster a late rally, posting 69 and landing at 4 under.

Reigning champion and World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler had a ho-hum 69 and finished seven behind Rai at 2 under.

–Adam Zielonka, Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Aaron #Rai #emerges #win #major #1st #Englishman #win #PGA">Deadspin | Aaron Rai emerges to win first major; 1st Englishman to win PGA since 1919  May 17, 2026; Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, USA; Aaron Rai reacts on the first green during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images   NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. — Aaron Rai drained a series of increasingly long putts to write himself into the history books and win his first major title Sunday at the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club.  Rai made a 40-foot eagle putt at the par-5 ninth hole to cap an uneven first nine, then pulled away with four birdies on the back and converted a remarkable 68 1/2-foot birdie at the par-3 17th to remove any doubt.  Rai, 31, is the first Englishman to win the PGA Championship since Jim Barnes in 1919. Americans had claimed this major each of the last 10 years.  Rai’s 5-under-par 65 put him 9-under 271 and three strokes ahead of Jon Rahm of Spain (68) and Alex Smalley. He had started the day in a five-way tie for second behind Smalley.  The first English major winner since Matt Fitzpatrick took the 2022 U.S. Open title, Rai was one of several less familiar names on the 54-hole leaderboard. But he was ranked No. 44 in the world entering the week, with one win on the PGA Tour and three more on the DP World Tour for his career.  He previously had not finished better than T19 at a major.  Rai’s putter was far from the only club working for him. He gave himself 4-foot birdies with tight approaches at Nos. 1 and 11, though he overshot the greens at Nos. 3 and 6 to lead to two of his three front-nine bogeys.  Everything turned when Rai lined up his eagle putt at No. 9. He left in the pin for the downhill, left-to-right putt and it tracked perfectly into the hole.   The birdie at No. 11 drew Rai even with Germany’s Matti Schmid, and he became the first player to touch 7 under all week at the short par-4 13th. Rai’s tee shot went in the front-right bunker, but he got his 39-yard sand shot to stop inside 7 feet to set up birdie.  Justin Thomas went into the clubhouse at 5-under 275 at about 3:05 p.m. local time, and that held up for most of the afternoon as players battled Aronimink’s more demanding back nine.  Smalley, Rahm, Rai and Schmid each held at least a share of the lead at 6 under at some point. Smalley — seeking his first professional win of any kind — irreparably harmed his chances with a messy double bogey at the par-4 sixth and a bogey at No. 8.  Schmid, playing in the final pairing with Smalley and also winless on the PGA Tour, took the lead from him at No. 6 when he got a 19 1/2-foot birdie to fall. But his bogey on No. 10 opened the door for Rai.  Rai was one of the only players who managed to tame the back nine. Northern Ireland star Rory McIlroy could not muster a late rally, posting 69 and landing at 4 under.  Reigning champion and World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler had a ho-hum 69 and finished seven behind Rai at 2 under.  –Adam Zielonka, Field Level Media   #Deadspin #Aaron #Rai #emerges #win #major #1st #Englishman #win #PGA

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