Justin Thomas capitalises on Pereira calamity to win a second PGA Championship

Comeback from seven shots down matched the PGA Championship record set in 1978 by John Mahaffey at Oakmont. 

ALL MINE: Justin Thomas poses with the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club.

TULSA, Oklahoma – Justin Thomas was pretty sure he didn’t do enough. He’d played the best golf in Oklahoma in the hardest conditions for two days but stumbled to a Saturday 74 that left him seven shots behind. For the first 10 holes Sunday he treaded water and still languished six or seven shots off the lead. Even with three birdies on the back, when his 11-footer slid past the cup on 18 he seemed resigned in the moment that his clubhouse lead of 5-under par would not hold up.

Minutes later, Will Zalatoris buried an 8-footer for par to join Thomas in the house at 5-under. The young man who considers himself a “majors specialist” had been leaking bogeys until he made a birdie on 17 to gain a share with Thomas. He’d already thought his hopes were over when his drive was heading toward the water on 18 but hit a tree and fell safely. He, too, had to wait to see what the relative unknown playing behind him would do.