Zalatoris and Thomas in two-man play-off

Surprise, surprise, Chilean golfer Mito Pereira played 71 holes in the US PGA Championship at Southern Hills CC, Tulsa, USA and looked unstoppable to become the new Champion.  Only his putt for birdie at the 17th hole pulled-up agonisingly short.  Just another millimetre or two and the 27-year old from Santiago could have probably waltzed home with the Wanamaker Trophy.  Instead, the par at the 17th cast a shadow of doubt on the player’s invincibility to qualify and win the world’s second Major of the year.  American Justin Thomas had that noble honour after an exciting two-man play-off with Will Zalatoris (USA).

 

   

 

On the final day, Mito Pereira led the field by three strokes on 9-under par.  England’s Matt Fitzpatrick and Will Zalatoris were three behind.  Justin Thomas was in a share of seventh spot with Stewart Cink and Bubba Watson on 2-under.  The Chilean was well ahead with 18 holes to go but a round at Southern Hills CC can take well over five hours so anything could happen.

 

Zalatoris closed the gap after Pereira bogeyed the third.  The American then made his own birdies at the fourth and fifth to become co-leader.  A 15-minute and 12 second time lapse on the sixth hole cost Zalatoris a bogey after his ball flew through the green and into the bushes behind a television tower.  A big debate with two referees saw him quietly take his medicine and luckily only drop one shot.  Pereira and Fitzpatrick were waiting patiently behind them. The Chilean golfer was now two ahead of Zalatoris.  The Wanamaker Trophy looked within his grasp.  But Justin Thomas was hanging on to his shirt tails and a few holes later he holed an enormous putt for birdie.  This could be the turning point in the game.

 

The best of British

 

Tommy Fleetwood was the best of the Brits.  He shot four rounds of 71, 70, 69 and 67 for a highly commendable share of 5th spot with fellow Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick who also scored 277.  The first round leader Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) closed out with a score of 2-under par for 278 and a sole position of 8th.

 

There was a lot of golf played on the back nine which saw the whole leaderboard turn upside down.  Despite Pereira’s missed putt at the 17th, the Chilean looked pretty confident teeing-off down the last.  Yet a nervous swing launched his ball way left and he ended-up on the green in four.  Add to that two putts and Pereira had closed his first US PGA Championship with a double bogey 6 to finish at 4-under par with a 75.  Eventually it was a score good enough for a share of third place with America’s Cameron Young.

 

 

Meanwhile, Will Zalatoris and Justin Thomas were warming-up for a two-man play-off over the 13th, 17th and 18th holes.  Alas, Pereira was just one shot adrift.  The Americans had both scored 5-under par and were to embark upon a play-off for the impressive silverware.  And what a play-off it was.

 

Justin Thomas attacked the par-5 13th and holed a superb putt for birdie.  Will Zalatoris was on the green for two and so was putting for eagle on the 541-yard hole.  His putt just missed the cup.  The players were all square.

 

On the final two holes, the tension was building.  Thomas drove the 302-yard long 17th and made birdie.  Zallatoris missed the green on the right and produced a chip and two putts for par.  Advantage Justin Thomas.

 

The 18th was the final play-off hole.  Both players were on the green for two and made two solid putts for par which left Justin Thomas the honorable winner of the US PGA Championship play-off by one stroke.

 

It was a magical moment for the 29-year old player from Kentucky.  The American had already won the US PGA Championship back in 2017 and now he was pretty emotional with his new victory.

 

Many congratulations to you Justin Thomas.  This is a wonderful victory for you as the 2022 US PGA Champion! 

 

 

Wendy Hoad

Editor

 

 

CHECK OUT your favourite player scores of the 2022 US PGA Championship HERE.

 

 

MAIN PHOTOGRAPH:  After a two-man play-off, American Justin Thomas is crowned the 2022 US PGA Champion at Southern Hills CC, Tulsa, USA.  MINIS: (l-r) Justin Thomas, Will Zalatoris, Mito Pereira and Tommy Fleetwood.