The rationale why this Tour chief makes use of iron covers will soften your coronary heart

Aaron Rai is clearly distinctive in the case of his tools setup.

Eagle-eyed gearheads can select his 2019 TaylorMade M6 driver he’s utilizing round Detroit Golf Membership, however most followers see the 54-hole co-leader at this week’s Rocket Mortgage Classic because the “guy who wears two gloves” it doesn’t matter what the climate.

However Rai’s most lovable a part of his gear setup can be the headcovers that adorn his irons. Sure, we’re speaking about iron covers, maybe essentially the most taboo of foolish golf-style decisions. Ironcovers are principally a rarity on the PGA Tour. Rai is probably going the one full-time Tour member who makes use of them week in and week out.

However the Englishman doesn’t donn the most important golf fake pas as a result of he doesn’t care about the way it seems — which he doesn’t however that’s inappropriate. Rai truly has fairly an endearing motive for holding them on his sticks.

Positive, the covers maintain his six TaylorMade P7TW irons from getting nicks as they bounce round, however in addition they stored his sticks from his junior golf days clear too.

He defined in a 2021 interview with SiriusXM PGA Tour radio that he nonetheless makes use of them to remind himself of the place he got here from.

“I grew up in very a lot a working-class household, and golf has all the time been a really costly sport,” Rai mentioned. “I began from the age of 4 years outdated, and my dad used to pay for the tools, pay for my memberships, my entry charges. And it wasn’t cash that we actually had, to be trustworthy, however he’d all the time purchase me the very best golf equipment.

“After I was about seven or eight years outdated, [my dad] purchased me a set of Titleist 690 MBs, they usually have been like 800-1,000 kilos again then, only for a set of golf equipment for a child. I cherished them. Once we used to exit and apply, he used to wash each single groove afterward with a pin and with child oil.”

Not lengthy after, Rai’s father went out and bought the iron covers to guard the funding.

“To guard the golf golf equipment, he thought it could be good to place iron covers on it,” Rai mentioned. “I’ve just about had iron covers on all of my units ever since simply to understand the worth of what I’ve, and it began with that first set.

“Though on the PGA Tour, we get given tools, and we get given every thing that we want, it’s extra out of precept. The worth of not shedding perspective of what I’ve and the place I’m.

“The covers are going to remain, I’m sorry.”

If Rai is ready to separate himself from Akshay Bhatia Sunday and win his maiden PGA Tour victory so as to add to his two PGA Tour titles, he could very but turn into the primary participant ever to win on the PGA Tour with iron covers.

That’s extra wins than any of the so-called “golf purists” at residence who may choose him for them have.

Jack Hirsh

Golf.com Editor

Jack Hirsh is an assistant editor at GOLF. A Pennsylvania native, Jack is a 2020 graduate of Penn State College, incomes levels in broadcast journalism and political science. He was captain of his highschool golf staff and just lately returned to this system to function head coach. Jack additionally nonetheless *tries* to stay aggressive in native amateurs. Earlier than becoming a member of GOLF, Jack spent two years working at a TV station in Bend, Oregon, primarily as a Multimedia Journalist/reporter, but additionally producing, anchoring and even presenting the climate. He could be reached at [email protected].