TULSA, Okla. — Justin Thomas came back from seven strokes on Sunday to win the 104th PGA Championship at Southern Hills, forcing the tournament into a three-hole aggregate playoff that he eventually won over Will Zalatoris to take home the second Wanamaker Trophy of his young career. In doing so, Thomas tied for the third-largest comeback after 54 holes in major championship history.
Thomas began his day at 2 under and roared back with a 3-under 67 in Round 4 that included a bogey-free 3-under 32 on the back nine. He birdied the first and second playoff holes and made par on the last, while Zalatoris matched the birdie on the first hole (No. 13) but was unable to hold serve over the final two (Nos. 17-18).
Thomas' seven-stroke comeback win marked the largest 54-hole comeback to win a major championship since the 1999 Open Championship. It was just the sixth time in history that a golfer won a major after trailing by seven strokes or more entering the final round.
"It was a bizarre day. I definitely crossed one off the list. I've never won a tournament shanking a ball on Sunday. That was a first, and man, I'd really like it to be a last," Thomas said after his victory. "... I was asked earlier in the week, 'What lead is safe?' And I said, 'No lead.' This place is so tough, but if you hit the fairways, you can make birdies. I stayed so patient, and I just can't believe I found myself in a playoff."
Zalatoris, meanwhile, achieved a second-place finish at a major for the second time in his career (2021 Masters). It was also his fifth top-eight finish in his last seven major starts. He began the day three strokes off the lead in T2 and posted a 1-over 71 in Round 4.
The tournament was surprise 54-hole leader Mito Pereira's to lose on Sunday as the 27-year-old Chilean opened the day with a three-stroke advantage on the field and either shared the lead or held it outright for every hole but his last. A birdie putt on the 17th, which would have given Pereira a two-stroke lead, stopped a half rotation short of the hole in a heartbreaking moment.
Pereira entered the 18th, the 72nd hole of his tournament, one stroke up on the field only to blast his drive into a creek right of the fairway. He eventually finished with a double bogey, not only giving away his potential victory but opening the door for Thomas and Zalatoris to compete in a playoff for the Wanamaker.
In regulation, Thomas stood over a birdie putt at the 18th that would have given him a field-best 4-under 31 on the back nine and ultimately been the outright win (after Pereira finished). He missed that and settled for par, while Zalatoris birdied the 18th to match Thomas for the clubhouse lead at 5 under.
| 13th (par 5) | 17th (par 4) | 18th (par 4) | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Thomas | (4) | (3) | 4 | -2 |
Zalatoris | (4) | 4 | 4 | -1 |
With Will Zalatoris off the green, Justin Thomas has found the putting surface on the par-4 18th. With a one-stroke lead, Thomas looks well-positioned to grab his second Wanamaker Trophy unless Zalatoris pulls a rabbit out of a hat.
It is a birdie for Thomas and par for Zalatoris. To 18 they go to decide the 104th PGA Championship
The 2017 PGA Champion will have an eagle look from just inside 40 feet on the second playoff hole. Zalatoris meanwhile is well positioned to get up and down for birdie.
The two trade birdies on the par-5 13th albeit in different manners. They will now head to the short par-4 17th where they both will most certainly attempt to drive the green.
Finding the middle of the fairway, Will Zalatoris has reached the 13th green in two and will have roughly 25 feet for eagle. Meanwhile, Justin Thomas was forced to lay up after hitting his tee shot in the rough. It is early but advantage Zalatoris.
It will be a 3-hole aggregate playoff between Justin Thomas and Will Zalatoris for the 104th PGA Championship. After Mito Pereira imploded on the 72nd hole, the two Americans will play Nos. 13, 17 and 18 for the Wanamaker Trophy.
