Justin Thomas wins first major at 2017 PGA Championship: video recap
American Justin Thomas has claimed his first major golf championship with victory at the 2017 US PGA Championship at Quail Hollow.
American Justin Thomas made it four from four majors for golfers with six-letters in their first and last names in 2017 after a dramatic victory at the PGA Championship.
The long-hitting Thomas, who comes from a line of great golfers with his father and grandfather golf club professionals took a share of the lead with a dramatic birdie on the 10th hole which hung over the edge of the hole for 12 seconds before dropping in for birdie.
A championship moment. #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/M3y5kC3P6U
— PGA of America (@PGA) August 13, 2017
The log-jam of golfers tied at the top of the leaderboard included Italy’s Francesco Molinari, Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, and fellow Americans Chris Stroud and Kevin Kisner.
American Rickie Fowler made a charge for his first major victory with four consecutive birdies on the back nine but he could only manage pars through the closing three holes at Wuail Hollow known as ‘The Green Mile’ and finished three shots behind Thomas.
With the final group pairing of Kisner and Stroud leakjing shots and Matsuyama racking up five bogeys in the closing eight holes, Thomas put two hands on the Wanamaker trophy with two more birdies on the back-nine including one at the difficult par-3 17th hole.
“Well played, Justin Thomas.”#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/0nryfpgbsN
— PGA of America (@PGA) August 13, 2017
“I knew no matter what my game was I needed to be patient,” Thomas said. “I felt I had the game to get it done. It’s so special to get it done. The adrenaline today it’s unbelievable. The ball went so far. I’ve been driving it well. On 17, the pin today was brutal and to make a birdie there was beyond a bonus.”
Jason Day finished as the best of the Aussies despite his brain-fade on the final hole of the third round. Day finished at 1-under par for the tournament, seven strokes behind Thomas. Marc Leishman finished strongly to finish in a tie for 13th place at even par.
