Reason Aaron Rai uses iron covers and wears two gloves - and why it says a lot about him

Aaron Rai has admitted that his father's influence plays a significant role in his approach to , including his distinctive fashion choices and use of protective gear. The English golfer kicked off his debut appearance at the illustrious Masters tournament on Thursday.

Rai turned professional in 2012 and progressed through the Challenge Tour, where he claimed three titles before making a mark on the European Tour and finally debuting on the in 2022. The 30-year-old has since bagged one title on the PGA Tour as he won the Wyndham Championship in 2024, and also notched up five other top-10 finishes that same year. His recent achievements have earned him a place at the , where he'll be vying with the world's elite golfers in the season's first major.

But for those unfamiliar with Rai's story, his choice of attire on the Augusta National course might surprise some people, as the athlete wears two golf gloves while he plays. While most golfers wear a single glove for better grip and leave the other hand bare, Rai has an intriguing explanation for his unusual choice.

Golf Monthly reported that the PGA Tour star attributes his two-glove habit to his early years, saying it started "when I was eight years old" and persisted due to his dad's influence. 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 preference for wearing two gloves that makes him a unique figure on the golf course - Rai is also known for adorning his clubs with iron headcovers, a practice many of his fellow golfers wouldn't consider. The root of this custom lies in a touching memory with his father.

Speaking to Golf.com, Rai opened up about his background and the significance of the equipment he uses. 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 explained how his father instilled a profound sense of treasuring possessions in him by covering his clubs, a practice he has maintained to "appreciate the value" of all that life has given him.

The golfer continued: "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 personal account highlights Rai's deep-rooted humility and gratitude, qualities that will likely accompany him throughout his career.

Perhaps this same humble approach could lead him to an unexpected Masters victory, in what would be one of the greatest stories of winning the coveted green jacket.