Why does Aaron Rai use two gloves? Explaining PGA Championship contender’s unusual fashion choice

By | May 16, 2026
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Aaron Rai is in search of his first major, but he already has a different sense of style from the rest of his competitors.

Rai is a rare golfer who uses two golfers when he plays, as it gives him a better grip on the club. Typically, golfers decide to use a glove on their less-dominant hand while leaving the other hand free before taking the glove off when putting.

However, Rai enjoys using gloves on both hands, as he believes it’s a big reason why he plays as well as he does. Rai has been a top-50 player in the world for the past two years and has put himself in contention at many of the game’s best tournaments.

Here’s a breakdown of why Rai decided to use two golf gloves.

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Why does Aaron Rai use two gloves?

Rai explained that he has been golfing two gloves for most of his life, and it began when he was playing golf at eight years-old.

“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,” he said, via Golf Monthly. “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.”

Rai claims that if he were to just use one glove like most golfers, he’d be a much worse player.

Like other golfers, though, Rai takes his gloves off to putt in order to control his putts much better. He also only uses one glove for bunker shots.

Rai has a lot of idiosyncrasies in the way he plays the game of golf, like that he uses iron covers. But it’s his use of two gloves that helps set him apart.

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Which gloves does Aaron Rai use?

Rai is an ambassador for MacWet, which is a company that makes sports gloves meant to withstand any kind of weather.

“MacWet gloves are designed to defy the elements, enhancing your performance in any conditions,” the company says on its website. “Unique to our technology, these gloves increase their grip the wetter they get, ensuring a secure hold on your golf club through rain or shine.”

Where is Aaron Rai from?

Rai was born and raised in Wolverhampton, England, but he currently splits his time between there and Jacksonville, Florida.

Aaron Rai nationality

While Rai is from England, his family comes from all over the world. Rai’s dad was also born in England but comes from an Indian family, and his mom originally immigrated to England from Kenya.

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