“A Racing Driver”: Aaron Rai's Adorable BBC Interview at Age 5 After First Tournament Win Goes Viral
May 17, 2026; Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, USA; Aaron Rai reacts with the trophy after winning the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
May 17, 2026; Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, USA; Aaron Rai reacts with the trophy after winning the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images
The 2026 PGA Championship might be Aaron Rai’s first major win in his professional career, but the English golfer has been on the course since the age of five. After his triumph this year at Aronimink Golf Club, an old interview of Rai with BBC Midlands Today is doing the rounds on the internet.
The video, posted to X via NUCLR GOLF, shows a five-year-old Rai out on the driving range. This was after he won in the net division of first even under-12 tournament. The interviewer in the video is then seen asking Rai what he would like to be when he grows up, to which the 2026 PGA Champion had a unique answer.
“A racing driver!”
The youngster followed his reply with a bout of laughter.
While Rai is today one of the golf greats, his interest was piqued first by Formula 1. He even hoped to one day become an F1 driver himself, as he told the BBC Sport back in 2018.
“I used to love watching Michael Schumacher, and it ran so deep that in junior golf competitions I wore Ferrari T-shirts and jumpers. That was my thing even from a young age. But since eight or nine, it became very quickly just about golf."
Rai’s F1 aspirations were quickly put to rest, as his golfing skill became apparent from a very young age, and people began to take note. Especially his father, Amrik.
Aaron Rai’s Old Coach is Proud of his Success
Rai has been playing golf since he could walk. The two-time PGA Tour winner has been on the golf course from the age of three, and the Englishman could swing a drive 170 yards by the time he was four.
Amrik, Rai’s father, would take him to the 3 Hammers Golf Complex in Wolverhampton, where he was introduced to his coach, Darren Prosser, who is attached to the Kingswinford Golf Centre. Prosser is the pro who took Rai’s raw talent and shaped it into the precise skill that makes a major winner.
After Rai’s recent win, Prosser spoke to BBC Radio WM's Sarah Julian, clearly elated at his old student’s international success.
“I'm absolutely lost for words, I'm so proud of him."
"He just picked that course [Aronimink] off fantastically. I was hoping it was going to be the day that it all came together for him and I'm so delighted."
Prosser reminisced about Rai’s youth as well, speaking about an inkling he had about Rai.
"I had a great feeling about him, he's such a level-headed guy and everything he does is measured.”
Aaron’s win is a significant milestone and comes with the promise of a long career of major wins and celebration for his family, friends, and his coach!
Do you think Aaron Rai will be able to keep up this momentum in the upcoming golf majors? Let us know in the comments.
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