Aaron Rai is making his Masters debut at Augusta National this week, and the Englishman has some quirks in his golf game that he heartwarmingly owes to his father
Aaron Rai has opened up about his father’s significant influence on his golfing style, including his unique choice to wear two gloves. The English golfer kicked off his debut appearance at the prestigious Masters tournament on Thursday, and he may be somewhat of an unknown entity to many sports fans as a result.
Since turning professional in 2012, Rai climbed the ranks through the Challenge Tour, winning three titles, before making waves on the European Tour and finally making his PGA Tour debut in 2022.
The 30-year-old tasted PGA Tour victory for the first time at the Wyndham Championship in 2024, and he achieved five other top-10 finishes last year. His recent achievements have earned him a coveted spot at the Masters, where he’ll be pitting his skills against the world’s elite in the season’s first major.
But for those unfamiliar with Rai’s story, his attire on the Augusta National course might be surprising for some, as the Englishman stands out by wearing two gloves on the course. While most golfers opt for a single glove to aid grip, Rai has his own unique rationale for going against the trend.
According to Golf Monthly, the PGA Tour star revealed that his double-gloving habit started “when I was eight years old” and has stuck with him ever since, thanks to his dad. Rai said: “I just happened to be given these two gloves – the guy who actually makes them sent a pair over – and I got into the habit of wearing them.
“Then, a few weeks down the line, my dad forgot to put the two gloves in the bag so I had to play with one. It was terrible. I couldn’t play, I couldn’t feel the grip, so I’ve always stuck with the two gloves ever since.”
But it’s not just his glove-wearing that makes him noticeable on the course; he also uses iron headcovers, a choice many golfers don’t make. Rai attributes this practice to a touching memory involving his father.
In an interview with Golf.com, Rai shared insights into his background and the sacrifices made by his family for his passion. He said: “I grew up in very much a working-class family, and golf has always been a very expensive game.
“I started from the age of four years old, and my dad used to pay for the equipment, pay for my memberships, my entry fees. And it wasn’t money that we really had, to be honest, but he’d always buy me the best clubs.
“When I was about seven or eight years old, [my dad] bought me a set of Titleist 690 MBs, and they were like 800-1,000 pounds back then, just for a set of clubs for a kid. I cherished them. When we used to go out and practice, he used to clean every single groove afterward with a pin and with baby oil.”
Rai then explained that his father instilled the habit of using protective covers on his golf clubs in him, and it is a tradition he has continued to this day. He added: “I’ve pretty much had iron covers on all of my sets ever since just to appreciate the value of what I have, and it all started with that first set.
“Although on the PGA Tour, we get given equipment, and we get given everything that we need, it’s more out of principle. The value of not losing perspective of what I have and where I am. The covers are going to stay, I’m sorry.”
This anecdote highlights Rai’s humility and down-to-earth attitude, qualities that will likely serve him well throughout his career. And who knows, maybe this mindset will even propel him to a surprise Masters victory, a story that would be remembered for years to come.
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