CHARLOTTE, N.C: Simply mind-blowing! That’s probably the only way to describe the frenzy generated at the otherwise serene Quail Hollow on Sunday when 24-year-old Justin Thomas went on to win his first-ever major title at the 99th PGA Championship. 

 

Great rivalries, unique friendships!

 

And those who openly shun the perception of solidarity with competitors in individual sports- can go take a walk! For this win came three weeks after Thomas swigged beer from the Claret Jug to celebrate his longtime friend’s Jordan Speith’s Open victory. And this camaraderie demonstrates that friendships are not that hard to forge even if you’re rivals on the greens.

 

                                                       

                                                        Justin Thomas with Rickie Fowler

 

As Thomas walked off with a closing 68, his yet another golfer close friend Rickie Fowler was there to share the happy moment. He happily posed with his close buddy Thomas to celebrate the historic victory.

 

                             

          A priceless childhood pic of Justin Thomas and Jordan Speith are doing the rounds on social media

 

A Tiger Woods fan, his first words were ‘bag of balls’

 

Thomas closed with a gritty three-under-par 68 on a Quail Hollow course that was tougher to tame than a bucking bull. With a 72-hole total of eight-under 276, he finished two strokes ahead of the runners-up: Francesco Molinari and Patrick Reed, who both closed with 67s, and Louis Oosthuizen, the 2010 British Open champion, who posted a 70.

 

A Tiger Woods fan, Justin Thomas’s first words were ‘bag of balls’.  Even more special than the trophy was seeing his father, Mike Thomas, walk toward him with arms wide to hug his only son. Interestingly, his father Mike Thomas is the longtime pro at Harmony Landing outside Louisville, Ky., and a former board member of the PGA of America. Mike Thomas’ father, Paul Thomas, is a 60-year PGA pro and the first one the 24-year-old Thomas called.

 

Victories in his kitty

 

He had won four times on the PGA Tour already – three times this season alone, including the Sony Open in Hawaii where he shot 59 in the first round – but none of his wins up until this point had come to the continental United States.

 

Lahiri fail to make impact

 

India's Anirban Lahiri finished the week in the 99th PGA Championships on a rather sad note with a round of 78. Put alongside his earlier rounds of 72-73 and 76, he finished at 15-over 299 and in dead last position 75th.

 

Day 3: Kisner marches ahead to the top at the 2017 PGA Championship

Day 2: Dark horses steal limelight at the 2017 PGA Championship

Day 1: 2017 PGA Championship: Thongchai Jaidee all set to debut at Quail Hollow