Becky Hodgetts
Posts by Becky Hodgetts:
Perton golfer
The Wolverhampton golfer became the first Englishman for over 100 years to win the PGA Championship.
The incredible story of Aaron Rai’s rise from junior golf in Wolverhampton to major champion is set to be told a number of times over the coming days.
Born in Wolverhampton, Rai was raised by proud parents Amrik Singh and Dalvir Shukla in Perton, where he came to the game by accident.
Rai, has continued to rise up the ranks to the PGA Tour and beyond, carded a superb round of 65 on Sunday to scoop the second major of the year at the PGA Championship.
A stunning back nine which came following an eagle on the ninth saw the Wolverhampton golfer finish six under par for his final ten holes.
Rai, who began playing at Three Hammers Golf Complex in Coven, became the first English golfer since 1919 to win the major championship, following his stunning back nine.
Rai has spoken a number of times about the influence of his parents on his golf game – and how his father support him as a youngster, buying him clubs and paying his fees.
Following his win, Rai was asked about his family and he told a press conference how his father quit his job to help him flourish in the game of golf.
And the 31-year-old hailed the support of his parents, with his father coming from Indian heritage and his mother moving to England having been born and raised in Kenya.
“It is probably hard for me to really express everything I feel towards them, I would get way too emotional to speak,” admitted Rai.
“My dad was with me everyday when we went to practice from four of five years old.
“He quit his job to focus on my golf from a young age.
“He used to read a lot about golf and he was very active in everything I did.
“my mum is absolutely incredible, she worked extremely long hours to provide for the house with my Dad not working as much.
“She was a phenomenal support. It would be amazing to share this with them if they were here.
“I can’t put into words what they have done for me in terms of support, the love and care they showed me. I would not be here without them.”
The 31-year-old emerged from a chasing pack on Sunday littered with major champions at Aronimink Golf Club to become the first English winner of the event in over a century.
Rai, who isn’t a big hitter on tour, plotted his way around a tough course with precision while those around him were finding trouble.
And the Wolverhampton golfer believes he was rewarded for good golf.
He added: “I think first of all the course demands. It is a true major championship course set up in terms of how difficult it is and how penalising it is.
“It rewarded you for good play, the nature of the course and the shots required in the last few holes required attention and a lot of focus.”
Council News
Shaping South Staffordshire:
Take part in a digital democracy trial that will shape the future South Staffordshire
Residents are being invited to take part in a new and exciting way to have their say on the future of South Staffordshire.
Shaping South Staffordshire is a new digital engagement project that asks people what they want the district to be like by 2045. It is a different kind of consultation, designed to be easy to use and open to everyone who lives in, works in, or visits South Staffordshire.
Taking part is quick and can be done online at a time that suits you. You can share your views, respond to ideas from others and help shape a shared vision for the future of our area.
This project is about listening to a wide range of voices and making sure decisions about planning reflect what really matters to local communities. Whether you have strong views or just a few thoughts to share, every contribution counts.
The first phase is open now and we would encourage everyone to get involved and have their say – and if you do, you could be in with a chance of winning £1,000.