Talking Sport with Matt Scrafton - King of clubs Rai shows that the nice guys can also be winners
As a fellow user of iron covers, it was great to see our minority represented so well on a global stage at the PGA Championship at the weekend.
Often mocked, often criticised, for too long now we’ve had stuffy golf types looking down their noses and scoffing as we peel that little bit of fabric off our shiny clubs before duffing a routine tee shot.
But once you hear the reason behind Aaron Rai’s preference for iron covers, even now, as a multi-millionaire at the top of his game who will have his choice of free clubs, your heart will be warmed.
Brought up in Wombourne, near Wolverhampton, to a working-class family, it was Rai’s father who would somehow find a way to fund his equipment, memberships and tournament fees.
Starting golf from the age of four, it was also Rai’s father who instilled an appreciation for his clubs. In many ways, the iron covers were a reminder of how fortunate he was to be able to possess such high-end equipment - and anyone who plays golf will know just how expensive a sport it can be.
Rai’s father would also hand clean the clubs’ grooves with a pin and baby oil after every practice round.
Not only that, the 31-year-old has a seven-year old driver in his bag, which might not sound like much, but most of the big names - your McIlroy’s, your Scheffler’s and so on - will be gifted upgraded clubs every few months as a matter of course (no pun intended).
The Englishman also uses orange castle tees, more commonly associated with your casual amateurs who are lucky to get around 18 holes in below 100 strokes.
Rai’s win is a reminder that sometimes, just sometimes, it’s good to remain humble.
I’m able to relate because it was my father who funded my Cobra irons a good 16 or 17 years ago when I first started getting into golf coming out of school.
Perhaps there was an element of guilt at the cost, so I made sure they remained in pristine condition and iron covers, to this very day, remain on those exact same clubs.
Now I’m not going to pretend I’m anywhere near Rai’s golf ability, but these are life lessons that apply to us all, regardless of talent or, for that matter, the sport involved.
Saying all this, I’m not sure I’ll be rocking the double hand gloves any time soon!
True to humble form, Rai - who shuns the spotlight and doesn’t feel the need to make any big purchases despite his success - announced he would be celebrating his win, and the subsequent $3.7m dollar cheque, by going to eat at Chipotle with his family.
On another note, and on the subject of his family, it was fitting that Rai’s win – which saw him become the first English winner at the PGA since 1919 – came on the same weekend as the ‘Unite The Kingdom’ far-right march in London.
Rai’s father was born in England but is of Indian descent, while his mother immigrated to these shores from Kenya.
While an increasing number of people continue to seek division and hate, blaming all of our nation’s woes on immigrants, Rai is out here acting with supreme talent and grace and doing so in a manner more gentlemanly and ‘British’ than any of those that would seek to denigrate him.
Be more like Aaron Rai, less like Tommy Robinson.
Focusing on the actual golf for a minute, it made for a welcome change to see an accurate, relatively short hitter take home the trophy, especially when all the talk during the build-up was about how this would be a simple ‘whack-it-as-far-as-you-can-off-the-tee-and-gouge-it-out-of-the-rough’ type of major.
Instead, Aronimink - which made for pulsating viewing throughout the week, with its bunched-up leaderboard - was a real test that required class, accuracy, temperament and grace, so it’s no wonder Rai came out on top.
A timely reminder that sometimes, just sometimes, the good guys win.