Aaron Rai is set to lose more than half of his £2.7 million ($3.69 million) prize money after winning the PGA Championship, due to US tax regulations. The 31-year-old became the first Englishman to claim the major title in 107 years, but under US tax rules, he will be required to hand over at least £1.4 million ($1.8 million) in deductions covering federal taxes, team expenses, Pennsylvania state income tax, agent commissions and caddie fees.
Although Rai was born and raised in the UK, he now lives in Florida with his wife, fellow golfer Gaurika Bishnoi. Under the US-UK tax treaty, the United States retains the right to fully tax income earned by British athletes from performances on American soil.
Rai's victory was sealed with a birdie at the par-3 17th hole at Aronimink Golf Club. Despite battling a neck injury earlier this year, he acknowledged that a recent run of consistent form had carried him to the greatest achievement of his career. Following his win, he said: 'It's been a bit of a frustrating season so to be standing here is definitely outside of my wildest imagination.'
Rai also spoke of his pride in becoming just the second English champion of the historic major. He added: 'There's a lot of incredible and historic English players over those hundred years... But to win this event and then to be the person that's the first one to have won it in a long time from England is an amazing thing.'
His wife, Gaurika Bishnoi, paid tribute to his work ethic, saying: 'He's one of the hardest working guys out there... For him, the game is bigger than any trophy.'
