Justin Thomas started Sunday at the PGA Championship seven strokes off the lead but completed a remarkable comeback to hoist the Wanamaker Trophy.
Entering Sunday at the 2022 PGA Championship, the narrative seemed to be a first-time winner on the PGA Tour getting that victory at a major championship. Mito Pereira, Will Zalatoris, Matt Fitzpatrick and Cameron Young were all heavily in the mix trying to earn that honor. Justin Thomas, on the heels of a Saturday 74 that dropped him seven shots behind the lead, wasn’t considered much of a factor.
That non-factor hoisted the Wanamaker Trophy on Sunday evening in Tulsa.
Thomas shot the round of the day with a 67 in difficult conditions after going 3-under on the back-nine. With Pereira dropping back and having a run-in with disaster on the 18th hole, that put Thomas and Zalatoris in a three-hole aggregate playoff. While Zalatoris played the three holes at 1-under, Thomas’ pristine approach on the reachable Par-4 17th hole that led to a birdie proved the be the difference.
Yeah, this shot was worth the club twirl. pic.twitter.com/S524NtY86u
— Golf on CBS ⛳ (@GolfonCBS) May 22, 2022
With a clutch two-putt on the 18th hole, he sealed the victory to win the 2022 PGA Championship with the third-biggest comeback in major championship history and tied for the biggest comeback in the history of this tournament.
Justin Thomas wins PGA Championship: Golf Twitter celebrates major comeback
Golf fans all across social media could only tip their cap and applaud Thomas after a stellar Sunday that earned him an all-important second major championship victory to his career (and a second PGA Championship as well).
OKLAtHOMAs. Idk how my algorithms missed this
— max homa (@maxhoma23) May 22, 2022
Hell yeah @JustinThomas34
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) May 22, 2022
I can’t believe this is the same tournament we watched for the first 3.95 days.
— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterCBS) May 22, 2022
Perfect wedge on 16
— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) May 22, 2022
Perfect 3-wood on 17
Perfect drive on 18
Perfect approach into 18
In a playoff in a major.
That any good?
Shocked Justin Thomas hasn’t fallen over over due to his massive balls with that tee shot on the 3rd playoff hole
— Amanda Rose (@AmandaGolf59) May 22, 2022
This week summed up in four photos: pic.twitter.com/1A2rTZGx9N
— Hagan (@hagan_parkman) May 22, 2022
Kinda funny that JT won the major they allow range finders at while having the supposed best caddie ever on the bag
— Christopher Powers (@CPowers14) May 22, 2022
Justin Thomas has been saying he’s “close”. Each time he faltered on the weekend less and less people believed him. Honestly- after his 74 yesterday, who actually saw this coming?? He did what champions do, stayed quieted, worked hard, and came up clutch in the biggest moments.
— Chris Breece (@ChrisBreece) May 22, 2022
Actual replay of the Justin Thomas/Will Zalatoris playoff. pic.twitter.com/3dtZvCS8f2
— BetSided (@BetSided) May 22, 2022
Well done Justin Thomas. Got the wrong side of the draw. Class act.
— John Duggan (@JohnDugganSport) May 22, 2022
Coming into the year, Thomas was critical of himself, saying that he needed to perform better and win major championships to truly measure himself as an equal with the greats of the game.
He looked the part on Sunday, unflappable in the biggest moments and facing immense adversity. Tip of the cap to him and, with the way he’s played over the past two years, it’s hard to think this will be the last major for him in the near future.
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