Justin Thomas secured a second PGA Championship title with a thrilling final round comeback ensuring he took advantage of a final-hole collapse by Mito Pereira before defeating Will Zalatoris in a play-off at Southern Hills Country Club.
Thomas equalled the biggest final-day comeback in tournament history as he surged from seven behind to post a three-under 67, carding four birdies over his last 10 holes to set the clubhouse target at five under.
Zalatoris carded a final-round 71 to match that target, with the pair progressing into a three-hole play-off after Pereira found water off the final tee. The Chilean, who had led by one walking up the last, went on to double bogey the hole to miss the play-off by one stroke thus ending his chances of becoming the first South American to win the event.
Thomas added to his 2017 title in the three-hole shootout with a birdie on the 17th proving decisive.
“It was a bizarre day,” said Thomas. “Bones did an unbelievable job of just keeping me in the moment. We just tried to play the golf course for what it is..
“It’s funny, I was asked earlier in the week about what lead is safe, and I said, ‘no lead’. This place is so tough. But if you hit the fairways you can make birdies and I stayed so patient, I just couldn’t believe I found myself in a play-off.”
Two-time DP World Tour Championship winner Matt Fitzpatrick finished in a share of fifth alongside former Race to Dubai champion Tommy Fleetwood.
Rory McIlroy, who led the tournament after a five-under-par 65 on the opening day, closed with a 68 to finish eighth.
