“After the PGA, there was a tweet from the Royal Family,” he said. “That’s huge. And an impact that is way bigger than golf.
“That maybe put into perspective that maybe it reached an audience that was wider than just the game. I couldn’t quite believe that when I saw it.
“I am extremely proud of the achievement. It is a huge accomplishment. Internally, seeing my relationship to the game over the past couple of months, even after achieving something as big as what that is, I still have the same enjoyment, passion and application to the game.
“That is something that is hard to really know is going to be there until you experience certain achievements, of what are you actually doing all of this for. So that’s been very satisfying as well.”
Rai is not as familiar with Royal Birkdale as some of his compatriots. He only saw it for the first time two weeks ago, in which time it has gone from ‘quite lush’ to baked and brown as the sunshine has made itself at home.
“It is a brilliant golf course,” he said. “It plays phenomenally.
“It’s a great layout and it’s a real iconic Open venue. It will be a true test of golf. I’m looking forward to getting started.”
He is not the only one. And should Rai reproduce his Aronimink form this week, Golden Bear might have to reach for his pen and paper once more.