Justin time for major title
Son and grandson of PGA pros, Thomas wins at Quail Hollow
CHARLOTTE, N. C.—Justin Thomas remembers hearing the roar before he ever saw the shot.
He had access to the clubhouse at Valhalla in 2000 as the 7- year- old son of a PGA professional, and the thunder from the gallery reached his ears before the TV showed Tiger Woods making the most important putt of his career at that PGA Championship.
Thomas was barely big enough to dream about playing against the best that day. Now his name is on the same Wanamaker Trophy.
Thomas closed with a 3- underpar 68 on Sunday for a 72- hole total of 8- under 276 at Quail Hollow to emerge from the shadow of longtime friend Jordan Spieth and capture his first major. He said the title belonged as much to the two generations of PGA professionals that came before him as it did to him.
‘‘ As a kid growing up, you want to win all the majors; you want to win any major,’’ Thomas said after his two- shot victory over Patrick Reed, Frances co Mo lin ari and Louis Oosthuizen. ‘‘ For me, the PGA definitely had a special place in my heart— and maybe a special drive. It’s just a great win for the family, and it’s a moment we’ll never forget— all of us.’’
On this day, the cheers were for him. They gave him chills when his eight- foot birdie putt teetered on the edge of the 10th hole for 12 seconds before finally dropping, when he chipped in from 40 feet on the 13th hole to seize control and when he fired a 7- iron from 221 yards over the water to a peninsula green on the 17th that all but sealed the victory.
Even more special than the trophy was seeing his father, Mike, walk toward him with arms wide to hug him. Mike Thomas is the longtime pro at Harmony Landing outside Louisville, Kentucky, and a former board member of the PGA of America. Mike’s father, Paul, is a 60- year PGA pro and the first one Justin called afterward.
The week began with Spieth’s quest for a career Grand Slam. He was at the 18th green late Sunday afternoon, but only so he could celebrate the moment with Thomas. The two have been close friends since they were 14.
‘‘ So awesome, dude,’’ Spieth told him.
Thomas was every bit of that. With five players still in the mix on the back nine, Thomas surged ahead by chipping in for birdie and holding his nerve down the stretch as his challengers eventually faded.
Hideki Matsuyama, who was bidding to become the first player from Japan to win a major, recovered from back- to- back bogeys with birdies on the 14th and 15th to pull within one shot. But the tournament turned on the 16th.
Thomas faced a six- foot par putt to stay at 8 under; Matsuyama had a five- footer for birdie. Thomas wasted no time over his putt and drilled it in the center of cup. Matsuyama missed and was two shots behind.
‘‘ The last major of the year, and I was in contention,’’ said Matsuyama, a runner- up at the U. S. Open. ‘‘ All I can do is try harder next time.’’
Thomas all but sealed it with his 7- iron on the 17th that rolled to about 15 feet. His birdie putt curled in, and his lead was up to three going to the 18th. A final bogey only affected the score.
‘‘ I can’t put it into words,’’ Thomas said about his PGA of America heritage. ‘‘ I wish my grandpa could be here for it. It’s so special to get it done. I’m glad we have a trophy now.’’