🏆 A fitting champion | Sports Daily Newsletter
Aaron Rai won the PGA Championship in style
Four days of mostly superb weather — and the biggest names in golf trying to solve the challenging field of Aronimink Golf Club — saw one winner emerge at the top on Sunday.
Aaron Rai pulled away from the loaded field and won the PGA Championship, finishing at 9-under par. He did so in style — his putt on the par-3 17th hole that traveled more than 68 feet and found the bottom of the cup was spectacular to watch.
The 31-year-old entered the weekend with just one PGA Tour victory and was best known for the two black gloves he wears. Now, he’s the first English-born golfer to win the event since 1919.
The course in Newtown Square certainly seemed to attract criticism from Rory McIlroy among several others during the tournament, but it made for a true test against the world’s best, and ultimately, the Donald Ross-designed Aronimink held up.
Despite being an area rich in golf tradition, the PGA Tour doesn’t regularly stop in Philadelphia. The next golf event to look forward to isn’t until the 2030 U.S. Open at Merion.
So hopefully folks enjoyed this golf major, and buckle up because next the World Cup and MLB All-Star Game come to town.
— Isabella DiAmore, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.
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❓What are your thoughts on the Phillies’ recent play and how can they stay above .500? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.
The Phillies are above .500 for the first time since April 7, and Sunday’s 6-0 shutout to complete a sweep of the Pirates saw Zack Wheeler throw seven scoreless innings to outduel Paul Skenes, the reigning National League Cy Young winner.
Couple that performance with Bryce Harper and Bryson Stott homering, while Alec Bohm and Brandon Marsh recorded hits and scored on a double from Stott, and the Phillies looked like a complete team.
The recent uptick has also seen Bohm, who opened the season in the worst slump of his career, and Justin Crawford, make major progress.
The Flyers’ attention has quickly shifted to the offseason, and the good news is that playoff teams generally have fewer questions to address than ones that missed out.
But while the youthful group looks to be in their ascendency after a first postseason appearance in six years, that doesn’t mean the team is without significant holes to fill this summer.
We take a look at five questions facing the organization, including getting Matvei Michkov back on track and re-signing Trevor Zegras.
Following the Union’s 1-1 draw against Columbus on Saturday, forward Milan Iloski said what a large majority of the club was thinking: “It’s just not good enough.”
The Union and their crop of fresh faces have just one win and four draws to show for all that change made in the offseason. They are also tied with Atlanta United for the fewest goals scored in the Eastern Conference.
With one game remaining, against a surging Inter Miami team, before a seven-week break, the Union will want to rest, recharge, and figure out exactly who they want to be in the second half of the MLS regular season.
The search is on for the 76ers’ new executive to lead day-to-day basketball operations. Bob Myers, the president of Harris Bitzer Sports & Entertainment, is leading the search and hopes to make this hire in time for the draft and free agency in late June.
Here’s a look at 10 potential candidates with connections to the Sixers and Myers.
Sports snapshot
Back on top: St. Joseph’s Prep crew won the boys senior eight and most overall medals at the 99th annual Stotesbury Regatta.
Moving up: Roman Catholic and Father Judge football will join the PIAA Class 6A next fall, setting up a Catholic League super playoff.
Final Four bound: Princeton knocked off Penn State in the NCAA men’s lacrosse tournament. Meet the Tigers’ ‘game-changing’ faceoff man.
Caddying to college: Father Judge’s Jake Ruppert earned a full four-year scholarship to Penn State through his work as a caddie.
The Flyers’ late-season push to qualify for the playoffs and their first-round victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins have raised expectations for the 2026-27 season. But the team has two major needs: a top-line center and a top-pair defenseman. Here’s a name general manager Danny Brière should know: Seattle Kraken center Shane Wright.
We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Jeff Neiburg, Jeff McLane, Marcus Hayes, Mike Sielski, Gina Mizell, Lochlahn March, Gustav Elvin, Kerith Gabriel, Dave Caldwell, Joseph Santoliquito, Isabella DiAmore, and Mia Messina.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
Thanks for getting your Monday started with me. Stay cool these next couple of days. Kerith will be back in your inbox tomorrow. — Bella