In Tulsa, Oklahoma, Justin Thomas won the US PGA for the second time in his career. The American had to wait five years to sign the double.
At 29, Justin Thomas was crowned following getting the better of his compatriot Will Zalatoris at the best of three holes in the play-off. The 9th in the world, who wins his 15th title on the North American circuit, has ended 14 months of drought, his previous victory dating from March 2021 at the Players Championship.
He made the difference on the 2nd hole of the play-off, on par 4 of No. 17. His drive landed directly on the green, when Zalatoris’ drive stopped outside, near the bunker. The latter still got close enough to aim for a birdie. Missed objective, unlike Thomas who took a great psychological ascendancy there. He did not let go on No. 18, ensuring the par, without his rival doing better than him.
His Sunday will have been a dream, because if he was the best placed of the favorites to triumph, he was no less than seven strokes behind at the tee. In doing so, he equaled a record: that of the greatest comeback in history in a last round, until then held by the only John Mahaffey, winner of this same US PGA in 1978.
His determination, his delicious golf, his experience, rewarded ‘JT’, who can also thank Guillermo ‘Mito’ Pereira. The almost unknown Chilean, who was only playing his second Major tournament, had been in the lead since the third round. He held the distance, despite the closeness of his competitors, until he cracked at the worst moment.
He may regret having grazed the birdie at No. 17, which would probably have assured him of a victory, his putt stopping at the edge of the hole, blocked by who knows what, if not perhaps invisible ants’ legs . Ants, on the other hand, he had in his hands, when his drive sent the ball into the river, on the way to the last hole. In the end, he conceded a double-bogey and saw his dreams of a historic Major crown suddenly crumble.
/ATS
