Here are the AP's top stories and promotable content. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan.
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Here are the AP's top stories and promotable content. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan.
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NATIONAL
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Redistricting debate shifts to South Carolina as Republicans seek clean sweep of US House seats
SUMMARY: The South Carolina House is debating legislation that could redraw congressional districts to help Republicans possibly win an additional seat in the November elections. Monday's debate is expected to be lengthy. Similar debates already have unfolded in Tennessee, Alabama and Louisiana. The Southern redistricting efforts come after a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that weakened Voting Rights Act protections for minority districts. That has opened the door for Republicans to redraw districts with large Black populations that have elected Democrats. The effort is being encouraged by President Donald Trump, who is hoping to hold on to a narrow Republican House majority in the midterm elections.
WORDS: 537 - MOVED: 05/18/2026 5:59 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionRedistrictingrdLdWritethru/b939802fd1ee9c3ae47a8619151a9746/text___
Riders navigate the first weekday of a strike that has shut down the largest US commuter rail system
SUMMARY: Commuters are navigating a maze of car, bus and subway routes after a strike shut down the Long Island Rail Road in New York. Negotiations failed to reach a deal in time for service to resume, leaving 250,000 commuters to scramble for alternatives Monday morning. The strike on North America’s largest commuter rail system began Saturday. Negotiations to end the action ran past 1 a.m. Monday before participants called it a night for about six hours. The five unions representing about half the railroad’s workforce and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which runs the railroad, have resumed negotiations.
WORDS: 850 - MOVED: 05/18/2026 2:21 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSLongIslandRailRoadStrikethLdWritethru/5d37125e259c21d766f1f25c1c846cdf/text___
Judge allows gun and notebook as evidence at Mangione’s trial in UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killing
SUMMARY: A gun and notebook that prosecutors say link Luigi Mangione to the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson can be used as evidence at his murder trial. The judge's ruling Monday partially rejects a defense argument that those items were seized illegally, before a search warrant was obtained. It's a major win for prosecutors, enabling them to show the jury a possible murder weapon and evidence they say points to motive. But the judge also ruled that other evidence found during an initial search of Mangione’s backpack must be suppressed. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to state and federal charges.
WORDS: 908 - MOVED: 05/18/2026 2:01 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSUnitedHealthcareCEOKilledndLdWritethru/3f6326b0a8fdf807622746a5d461742c/text___
3 young people arrested in series of random shootings across Austin that left 4 injured
SUMMARY: Officials in Austin, Texas, say three young people are in custody in at least 10 random shootings that left four people hurt in the city over the weekend. Authorities ordered residents of a large part of southern Austin to shelter in place on Sunday while the investigation continued. They lifted the order Sunday afternoon. Police Chief Lisa Davis says the shootings occurred Saturday and Sunday morning, including two outside fire stations. Davis says the suspects apparently were stealing vehicles. Two were described as boys ages 15 and 17. Police say the third was a juvenile, but did not provide an age or any other details.
WORDS: 260 - MOVED: 05/18/2026 10:29 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSMultipleShootingsTexasAustinndLdWritethru/d50e4063f1234c1bbd6bc9377fb0cd88/text___
4 crew members eject safely after two Navy jets crash during air show in Idaho
SUMMARY: Officials say all four crew members ejected safely after two Navy jets collided and crashed during an air show at a military base in Idaho. Emergency crews responded after the EA18-G Growlers crashed at the Mountain Home Air Force Base in western Idaho on Sunday. Officials say the four crew members are in stable condition and the remainder of the show was canceled. Nobody on the ground was hurt. Videos posted online by spectators show four parachutes opening in the sky as the aircraft plummet to the ground near the base about 50 miles south of Boise.
WORDS: 998 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 7:33 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSAirShowPlanesCollidethLdWritethru/cf2c98134c068cfcb8987e68a3177c62/text___
Talks to end a strike shutting down the largest US commuter rail system will resume Monday
SUMMARY: The strike shutting down North America’s largest commuter rail system will continue into a third day. Lengthy negotiations failed to reach a deal in time to save Monday morning's commute on the Long Island Rail Road in New York. The talks that began Sunday afternoon went past 1 a.m. Monday before negotiators called it a night, agreeing to resume discussions six hours later. The failure to reach a deal means the strike will mar the start of the work week for about a quarter million commuters. The talks involved five unions representing about half the railroad's workforce and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which runs the railroad. The strike started Saturday. The two sides have negotiated for years over a new contract.
WORDS: 941 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 4:36 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSLongIslandRailRoadStrikethLdWritethru/c3e05bd1593e41f736dfca74d03e234b/text___
Teenagers arrested in random shootings across Austin that left 4 injured
SUMMARY: Officials in Austin, Texas, say two teenagers are in custody and a potential third suspect is being sought in at least 10 random shootings that left four people hurt in the city over the weekend. Authorities ordered residents of a large part of southern Austin to shelter in place on Sunday while the investigation continued. They lifted the order Sunday afternoon. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson says the shootings appeared to be random. Police Chief Lisa Davis says the shootings occurred Saturday and Sunday morning, including two outside fire stations. Davis says the suspects apparently were stealing vehicles as they moved about.
WORDS: 243 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 9:09 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSMultipleShootingsTexasAustinthLdWritethru/f2a1855b04504eec0ca5e00ff598ce38/text___
3 people killed, several others injured after driver crashes into pedestrians in Oakland, California
SUMMARY: Authorities say a driver crashed into multiple cars and pedestrians in Oakland, California, late Saturday night, killing three people. The crash happened shortly after 11 p.m. Oakland police said three other pedestrians and the driver were taken to hospitals. Police said the driver is under 18 and was arrested. Police said it appears that the vehicle was moving fast and traveling north on 85th Ave. and struck a parked vehicle and several pedestrians as the driver turned left onto International Blvd. The crash remains under investigation.
WORDS: 148 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 11:08 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSDeadlyCrashCaliforniastLdWritethru/6ee81efd1b09ae176f2d7e39b2737303/text___
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WASHINGTON/POLITICS
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Justice Department announces a $1.7B fund to compensate Trump allies in a deal to drop IRS suit
SUMMARY: The Trump administration has announced the creation a $1.7 billion fund to compensate allies of the Republican president who believe they were mistreated by the Biden-era Justice Department. The “Anti-Weaponization Fund” was announced by the Justice Department on Monday as part of a deal to resolve President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his tax returns. Democrats and government watchdogs immediately pledged to fight what they called a “corrupt” and unprecedented resolution. Trump’s lawyers disclosed the dismissal of the case in a filing in federal court in Florida, where the president sued earlier this year.
WORDS: 1049 - MOVED: 05/18/2026 1:12 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpIRSLawsuitthLdWritethru/3729de38770b558be01712a143437bf8/text___
China agrees to boost trade for US beef and poultry following Trump-Xi summit
SUMMARY: The White House says China has agreed to increase its imports of U.S. agricultural products like beef and poultry, after President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing last week. It says China will buy at an annualized rate of $17 billion per year for 2026 and at that level for 2027 and 2028, on top of previous commitments to buy U.S. soybeans. China sharply curtailed its imports last year after Trump launched a trade war against the country, and U.S. farmers felt the brunt of the impact. The agreement includes restoring market access for U.S. beef and resuming poultry imports from certain states. There was no immediate confirmation of the terms from Beijing, but China on Saturday had signaled an agreement to reduce some trade barriers.
WORDS: 1062 - MOVED: 05/18/2026 3:15 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSChinaTrumpAgriculturestLdWritethru/832bafb5ca0be21e4a1d149c5db56b58/text___
Cassidy tried to get along with Trump after his impeachment vote. Retribution came anyway
SUMMARY: It was a hurdle too high for Bill Cassidy to clear. The Republican senator from Louisiana had tried to satisfy Donald Trump and his supporters, but they couldn't forgive him after he voted to convict at the president's impeachment trial over the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. That was more than five years ago and the ill will lingered. Trump backed one of Cassidy's challengers in Saturday's Senate primary, and the incumbent finished third. He didn't even make the June runoff. Cassidy is the latest name on an increasingly long list of Republicans who crossed Trump and were punished by voters.
WORDS: 1180 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 7:01 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionLouisianaSenate/e62a790a9ca22055038b0ff7309a0ad4/text___
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INTERNATIONAL
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Congo will open 3 Ebola treatment centers as a rare strain spreads in Ituri
SUMMARY: Congo's health minister has announced the opening of three treatment centers for Ebola virus in the eastern Ituri region. It comes as Congo grapples with an outbreak of a rare Ebola variant that has no approved therapeutics or vaccines. The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on Sunday. More than 300 suspected cases and 88 deaths have been reported in Congo and two in Uganda. The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a rare variant of Ebola. Health officials are in panic mode due to a lack of medicines and vaccines.
WORDS: 1232 - MOVED: 05/18/2026 8:44 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APAFCongoEbolathLdWritethru/305bf410419bdb1311020b72111c12e7/text___
Lebanon death toll reaches 3,000 in fighting between Israel and Hezbollah
SUMMARY: The death toll in the latest fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon has surpassed 3,000. The health ministry reported this on Monday despite a fragile ceasefire. Fighting began on March 2 when Hezbollah fired at Israel after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran. Israel has since invaded southern Lebanon and bombarded Beirut, targeting Hezbollah’s rearming efforts. More than a million people have been displaced in Lebanon. Groundbreaking talks between Israel and Lebanon, facilitated by the U.S., produced a ceasefire starting April 17. Hezbollah is not part of the talks, and tensions remain high.
WORDS: 517 - MOVED: 05/18/2026 3:28 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLLebanonIsraelndLdWritethru/2d0737f122640d72b247bd9e6643b537/text___
What to know about the political chaos engulfing the UK's Labour Party and efforts to unseat Starmer
SUMMARY: Beleaguered British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is trying to return to the business of running government. Starmer faces calls for his resignation and potential leadership challenges from his former Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. Burnham plans to run in a special election in Makerfield that could lead him to challenge Starmer's leadership if he wins. The election is expected within weeks. Meanwhile, Labour's internal issues overshadow rival party troubles, including an investigation into Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and controversies surrounding Green Party leader Zack Polanski.
WORDS: 918 - MOVED: 05/18/2026 4:20 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUBritainPoliticsWhattoKnow/1d253316385e6813b7844509eb12038d/text___
Italy's foreign minister says divers found bodies of 4 Italians in Maldives sea cave
SUMMARY: Italy’s Foreign Ministry says rescuers have found the bodies of four Italian divers inside an underwater cave in the Maldives. They were located four days after being reported missing. Searches resumed Monday after being suspended due to the death of a local military diver. The Maldives government confirmed the bodies were spotted by Finnish diving experts, supported by local police and military. The divers were found in the innermost part of the cave. The body of a fifth Italian, a diving instructor, was found earlier outside the cave. The cause of the deaths is still under investigation.
WORDS: 403 - MOVED: 05/18/2026 10:44 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APItalyMaldivesDivingAccidentthLdWritethru/24c0b6546c425811c6185e86fe47194a/text___
Israeli troops intercept flotilla boats trying to breach the blockade of Gaza
SUMMARY: The Israeli military has intercepted boats off the coast of Cyprus, part of a flotilla attempting to break Israel's naval blockade of Gaza. More than 50 vessels departed from Turkey last week. Organizers say the boats were intercepted 250 nautical miles from Gaza's shores. Israel's Foreign Ministry called the flotilla a provocation, while Turkey condemned the intervention as piracy. The blockade has been in effect since 2007, restricting movement in and out of Gaza. Previous attempts to breach the blockade have failed. Organizers hope to draw attention to Gaza's living conditions.
WORDS: 1082 - MOVED: 05/18/2026 8:01 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APTurkeyGazaFlotillathLdWritethru/c0574562f3b5b53a6708b498b9143246/text___
Hantavirus-stricken cruise ship docks in the Netherlands for disinfection
SUMMARY: A cruise ship hit by a deadly hantavirus outbreak has docked at the Dutch port of Rotterdam for disinfection. The MV Hondius reached Rotterdam on Monday morning, carrying 25 crew members and two medical personnel. All passengers had disembarked already. The crew will enter immediate quarantine. During the outbreak, three passengers died, including a Dutch couple believed to have been exposed in South America. The outbreak has reached at least 11 cases, with nine confirmed. The ship will be decontaminated based on Dutch public health guidelines before being allowed to sail again.
WORDS: 613 - MOVED: 05/18/2026 5:36 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APHantavirusShipthLdWritethru/b45915182f4c8ad6f273f10ffe89286a/text___
A strong quake in south China kills 2 and triggers evacuation of 7,000
SUMMARY: A 5.2 magnitude earthquake has struck south China's Guangxi region, killing two people and toppling buildings. State media reports the quake hit early Monday, injuring four others and forcing over 7,000 residents to evacuate from Liuzhou city. Authorities say the search for missing residents wrapped up around midday Monday. A 91-year-old man was found alive in good condition. State broadcaster CCTV shows images of excavators clearing debris. At least 13 buildings collapsed, and landslides blocked roads. Train services around Liuzhou were canceled or delayed.
WORDS: 157 - MOVED: 05/18/2026 7:10 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASChinaEarthquake/ab23014c9b6c014d2f756bfd7aa94068/text___
Argentina's icy outpost at the end of the world fears the hantavirus will chill tourism
SUMMARY: Remote Ushuaia in Argentina, known as the southernmost city on earth, has found itself at the center of a global media storm involving the deadly hantavirus outbreak. Local tourism operators and officials are scrambling to stem the reputational fallout that they fear could cause foreign tourists reconsider their Antarctic cruise plans for next season, with devastating economic consequences. Some tour agencies saying they've already seen cancellations even though authorities in Ushuaia and the wider province of Tierra del Fuego insist that it’s extremely unlikely the Dutch couple caught the rat-borne virus on the island for various environmental and epidemiological reasons. Three weeks after news of the virus-stricken ship surfaced, the source of the contagion remains unclear.
WORDS: 1120 - MOVED: 05/18/2026 7:01 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APLTArgentinaHantavirusTourismFears/7e16664e2d031797ed2c043c34956353/text___
Bulgaria gives its Eurovision winner Dara a grand welcome upon her return home
SUMMARY: Hundreds of cheering fans waving Bulgarian flags have welcomed Eurovision Song Contest winner Dara upon her return home. The 27-year-old singer was visibly tired but smiling when she arrived on Sunday at Sofia’s Vasil Levski Airport holding up the Eurovision trophy. Bulgaria’s major television stations made changes to their regular programs to air live coverage from the airport. Dara said that “this award marks the beginning of my future international career.” She won the 70th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday in Vienna with her infectious party anthem “Bangaranga.” It gave the southeast European country its first-ever victory in the competition.
WORDS: 291 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 5:41 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUBulgariaEurovisionWinnerstLdWritethru/1811923696ea01bb39153516336980db/text___
Drone strikes UAE nuclear plant as US and Iran signal they are prepared to resume war
SUMMARY: A drone strike has targeted the United Arab Emirates’ sole nuclear power plant. No one has been blamed and no major damage is reported. But Sunday's incident highlights the risk of renewed war as the United States and Iran signal they would be ready to fight again. U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and shortly afterward said on social media that Iran “better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them.” Tensions continue over Iran's grip on the Strait of Hormuz. Diplomatic efforts for a more durable peace have repeatedly faltered.
WORDS: 896 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 10:34 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIranUSthLdWritethru/71e7e58f45193b7dee3df28740532a7b/text___
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BUSINESS
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Summer travelers who relied on Spirit Airlines may struggle to find budget alternatives
SUMMARY: The collapse of Spirit Airlines isn't the only curveball confronting people planning summer trips. Rising jet fuel costs tied to the Iran war have pushed up airfares and associated fees across the industry. Two of the remaining U.S. budget carriers just finalized a merger. The developments illustrate how difficult it's gotten for low-cost airlines to operate while squeezed by jet fuel prices, changing consumer preferences and competition. For decades, budget carriers thrived by targeting price-conscious passengers. But big airlines like American, Delta and United have gotten better at tailoring prices to different travelers and matching low fares. Major carriers also can more easily generate revenue to offset higher fuel costs.
WORDS: 1036 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 11:10 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSBudgetAirlinesndLdWritethru/88d30798625a44283973936eccef984f/text___
Oil prices keep swinging up and down, and so do stocks worldwide
SUMMARY: Oil prices swung after a scare overnight where prices popped and then moderated, and the yo-yo moves kept stock markets worldwide unsettled. The S&P 500 slipped 0.3% Monday after flipping between modest gains and losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 19 points. The Nasdaq composite fell 0.7% but remained near its record set last week like the S&P 500. Earlier in the morning, Asian stocks sank after oil prices jumped on worries about the Iran war. Oil prices later receded, which helped European stock markets flip from losses to gains. Treasury yields also gave up overnight gains as oil prices retreated.
WORDS: 773 - MOVED: 05/18/2026 4:39 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APFinancialMarketsthLdWritethru/e7b781e8e2394be6486fa5f006e5e06e/text___
Tiny patients, big fight: NICU parents win leave in 2 states and push for more
SUMMARY: Parents with newborns in intensive care units have long faced a difficult but overlooked plight: Any parental leave they might have does not take into account the days or even months their newborns spend in intensive care. Many choose to return to work immediately rather than use up leave they will need when their baby comes home. Colorado and Illinois became the first states this year to adopt dedicated neonatal leave programs, galvanizing a grassroots movement for more state programs and a federal policy.
WORDS: 1600 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 1:05 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSNeonatalLeavestLdWritethru/992ead042faad3f6ec8c8d6b9b6fb74c/text___
Demand for cruises appears undimmed despite hantavirus and other onboard outbreaks
SUMMARY: Recent outbreaks of hantavirus and norovirus on cruise ships are making headlines, but they’re unlikely to dim vacationers’ growing love of cruises. CruiseCompete.com, an online cruise marketplace, said it booked 31.7% more cabins in the first two weeks of May than it did during the same period last year. And Viking said earlier this week that demand softened slightly in the first quarter after the Iran war began before picking up steam again. Rob Kwortnik, an associate professor at Cornell University’s Nolan School of Hotel Administration, said current news cycles rarely impact cruise demand because cruises are generally booked at least 6 months — and often as much as a year – in advance.
WORDS: 927 - MOVED: 05/16/2026 10:10 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APHantavirusCruiseTravelDemandstLdWritethru/d85e4a85a7548073fb5ca549c09701a6/text___
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RELIGION
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Thousands flocked to the National Mall in Washington for an America-themed prayer rally
SUMMARY: Thousands of people have streamed onto the National Mall in Washington for a daylong prayer rally. The event Sunday is billed as a “rededication of our country as One Nation under God.” President Donald Trump read a passage of Scripture in a video shown at the rally, the same footage used in a Bible-reading event last month. Most speakers celebrated Christianity’s ties to American history. It's a blending of ideas that critics flagged in advance of the prayer gathering as supporting Christian nationalism. The event was organized by a public-private partnership backed by the White House. Congressional Democrats see it as a Trump-controlled end run around a commission charted by Congress a decade ago to prepare 250th anniversary events.
WORDS: 914 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 3:24 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APRELAmericaWashingtonPrayerGatheringthLdWritethru/e65950eac5f7aed8be529333cbd301b3/text___
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SPORTS
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Pelicans hire ex-Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley as New Orleans' next coach, AP source says
SUMMARY: A person familiar with the situation says the New Orleans Pelicans have hired Jamahl Mosley as their next coach, ending interim coach James Borrego’s candidacy to retain his job on a permanent basis. Mosley spent the past five seasons with Orlando, which fired him this month after the Magic's seven-game, first-round playoff loss to the Detroit Pistons. Mosley went 189-221 with Orlando. His teams qualified for the NBA playoffs in each of the past three seasons and won the Southeast Division twice, but were eliminated in the first round each time. Borrego went 24-46 as Pelicans interim coach.
WORDS: 531 - MOVED: 05/18/2026 3:29 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APBKNPelicansMosleyndLdWritethru/aa1b989eb9534650811ca5620c5f63e8/text___
NBA tipoff: The conference finals start with Spurs-Thunder on Monday
SUMMARY: Merry Christmas! No, wait, these are the NBA conference finals. Easy mistake. If these games — San Antonio at Oklahoma City, and Cleveland at New York — make you want to put on sweaters, have some eggnog and unwrap gifts, there’s a reason. Those matchups were part of the NBA’s schedule on Dec. 25 this season. And now, they’re also the matchups for the conference finals. Oklahoma City and San Antonio will play in the Western Conference finals, that series beginning Monday on the Thunder’s home floor. And Cleveland will play New York in the Eastern Conference finals, starting Tuesday at Madison Square Garden.
WORDS: 927 - MOVED: 04/14/2026 1:36 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APBKNTipoffthLdWritethru/21ad890604b4cb2895cf3613378c5813/text___
Aaron Rai runs away with the PGA Championship, first English-born winner in more than a century
SUMMARY: Aaron Rai has become the first English-born player in more than a century to capture the PGA Championship. Rai, who dreamed of being a Formula 1 driver until he turned to golf, was three shots behind and approaching the turn at Aronimink Golf Club when he delivered a performance worthy of a major champion. He made a 40-foot eagle putt on the par-5 ninth during a stretch when he one-putted seven straight greens. Then he holed a birdie putt of some 70 feet across the 17th green for the clincher. The 31-year-old Rai is the first player of Indian heritage to win a major. He closed with a 5-under 65.
WORDS: 1140 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 3:27 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APGLFPGAChampionshipthLdWritethru/1de289b32e148a35edcd919284f01096/text___
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