GOLF: Aaron Rai keen to learn from mistakes heading into Memorial Tournament

Rai Credits Recent Near-Miss for Major Breakthrough Ahead of Memorial

Aaron Rai's fifth-place finish at last month's Myrtle Beach Classic may have seemed like a disappointment considering he led going into the weekend. However, the Englishman insists the outcome was "massively" important to his ensuing PGA Championship victory.

The setback also provided crucial lessons he plans to carry into this week's Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club.

"That experience at Myrtle Beach was absolutely invaluable for the PGA, and I'm not sure I would have handled the situation as well as I did at the PGA if I hadn't experienced it the week before at Myrtle Beach," Rai said during a Tuesday press conference ahead of the tournament in Dublin, Ohio.

The 31-year-old said getting accustomed to the pressure of playing in the final group at Myrtle Beach—something he hadn't done in at least five months—was a massive stepping stone. He also noted that a few "small things" during that final round ultimately set him up for his first major title.

"Bits from the crowd, bits from a couple of mistakes that I made in the midsection of the round—I think I made four bogeys in a row around the turn," Rai recalled. "Just kind of where my mind went, certain things that I could have dealt with better, I was very aware of even on the Saturday of the PGA."

"I think when you've had that experience so recently, it's a lot fresher in the mind and it's a lot easier to make those adjustments. So, yeah, that was crucial, really."

Taking On Muirfield Village

Rai expressed immense excitement to tee it up at Muirfield Village, calling it "an amazing golf course" and one of his personal favorites on the PGA Tour.

"It's an absolutely incredible event, a course that I absolutely love," Rai said. "Very demanding. I think it requires a complete game no matter what your skillset is—whether you're a little shorter, whether you're a little longer, whether you're straight, or whether the short game is good. It requires everything to be successful around this event."

This week marks Rai's fourth career start at the Memorial. While he finished T26 in 2022, he struggled in his last two appearances, missing the cut in both 2023 and 2025. He acknowledged that the rigorous course demands a high level of respect and preparation.

"Certainly after playing it a little bit more, it definitely requires a little bit more understanding, and I probably haven't done as good of a job as I could in terms of my preparation, especially last year," Rai admitted, referencing his 9-over-par performance where he missed the cut following rounds of 79 and 74.

"I think just trying to approach it a little bit better. Got here slightly earlier this week as well in order to do so, and to just learn from a couple of the mistakes that I've made in previous years."

Rai faces a formidable challenge this week as he looks to dethrone the two-time defending champion and World No. 1, Scottie Scheffler, who cruised to a four-stroke victory over Ben Griffin last year at 10-under par. -Field Level Media/Reuters