Aaron Rai has made history as the first Englishman in over a century to capture the PGA Championship, sinking clutch putts from 40 and nearly 70 feet when it mattered most. Rather than heading straight to Texas this week, he is taking a break—likely to celebrate and recharge, which is entirely understandable.
The 2026 PGA Champion has withdrawn from this week’s CJ Cup Byron Nelson, a $10.3 million event at TPC Craig Ranch. The 31-year-old informed PGA Tour officials of his decision on Monday morning.
Rai’s victory marks the first by an English-born player at the PGA Championship in 107 years, since Jim Barnes in 1919. He closed with a five-under 65 to finish at nine under par, three strokes ahead of Jon Rahm and Alex Smalley.
Trailing by three through eight holes, Rai gained momentum with a 40-foot eagle putt on the par-5 ninth. His final 10 holes were exceptional, capped by a nearly 70-foot birdie on the 17th. After a performance like that, jumping straight to Texas four days later was never a realistic expectation.
South Korea’s Seung-yul Noh will replace him. Ranked 370th globally and having missed his last five Korn Ferry Tour cuts, Noh’s only PGA Tour title came at the 2014 Zurich Classic of New Orleans, when the event was still individual stroke play. Andrew Putnam has also withdrawn, with Austin Cook taking his spot.
Rai’s 2024 performance at the Byron Nelson illustrates what the field is missing: a 67-65-68-64 finish for a 20-under total and a T4 finish. He skipped the 2025 edition and now sits out 2026 as well, a choice consistent with Tour patterns.
Winning a major brings intense media obligations, sponsor duties, and the emotional weight of achieving a lifelong goal. After 72 holes on a demanding course, skipping the following week is often a necessity rather than a luxury.
Even Rory McIlroy took a couple of weeks off after winning the 2026 Masters, and he is also missing this week’s event. Other notable absences from the $10.3 million field include Ludvig Aberg, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Thomas, and several others. Aaron Rai is expected to return later this month, while the field remains packed with star power.
Scottie Scheffler & Co. set to shine at TPC Craig Ranch
Scottie Scheffler enters as the clear favorite at +150. The World No. 1 is the defending champion at TPC Craig Ranch and, living locally in Dallas, has historically performed well here. The updated, scoring-friendly layout further suits his game.
Si Woo Kim (+1250) arrives with strong credentials, finishing runner-up in 2023. Jordan Spieth (+2000) adds the Dallas-native advantage, having secured a solo second in 2022. Brooks Koepka stands at +2700, while Keith Mitchell (+3300) is the under-the-radar pick with excellent ball-striking and proximity-to-hole stats, making him attractive to sharp bettors.
Who will you be cheering for at TPC Craig Ranch?
