PGA Championship 2017: Justin Thomas surges to first major victory

Hailey Hernandez

PGA Championship 2017: Justin Thomas surges to first major victory image

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The  PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club is the last major golf tournament of 2017. As Sunday's round came to a close, the leaderboard was packed with those searching for their first major victory. 

One of those golfers, 24-year-old Justin Thomas, emerged with the victory. He carded a final-round 68 and finished the tournament 8 under par. He won by two strokes over Francesco Molinari, Patrick Reed and Louis Oosthuizen.

MORE: Thomas to receive $1.89 million for PGA victory

Jordan Spieth had a chance to prove his dominance as he tried to become just the sixth player to complete the career Grand Slam. This was his only shot to become the youngest player to accomplish the feat; Tiger Woods was the last to complete the Slam in 2000 at 24 years, 5 months when he hoisted the Claret Jug at St. Andrews. 

In his first three rounds, however, Spieth didn't set himself up to challenge the leaders. He ended Sunday with a 70, 3-over for the tournament. 

Rory McIlroy went in with the best odds to win the 2017 PGA Championship, but at 2-over, he didn't put himself into contention to win his first major since 2014. 

Heading into the the final round, Oosthuizen was the only major champion in the top 15.

PGA Championship leaderboard

Click our  2017 PGA Championship leaderboard with scores from Quail Hollow.

PGA Championship highlights

How Round 4 of the 2017 PGA Championship unfolded.

Justin Thomas joins Jordan Spieth, Brooks Koepka and Sergio Garcia as a 2017 major winner. 

Final leaderboard:
1. Thomas (-8)
T2. Molinari (-6)
T2. Reed
T2. Oosthuizen 
T5. Fowler (-5)
T5. Matsuyama

JT bogeys 18, but is in the clubhouse with a 2-shot lead. That'll do it. 

JT birdies 17 and has a two-shot lead heading to the final hole. 

Matsuyama has four bogeys on the back nine holes. He falls back to -6. 

Thomas had a chance to birdie on 15, but he settles for par. Up next? The Green Mile. 

Molinari finishes at -6. Officially taking Fowler (-5) out. 

JT just carried his drive on 15 more than 320 yards IN THE AIR. I'd say adrenaline is flowing. 

An eagle chip-in for Oosthuizen puts him 2-shots back thru 15. 

Just a reminder JT started the day 2-back. He now has the solo lead by one shot ahead of Patrick Reed. 

Reed moves into second now at -7. 

That was huge. 

JT chips in at 12 to move to 8-under. He's got a 2-shot lead over Molinari, Reed, Kisner and Stroud. 

Fowler finished his final round 5-under. He sits tied for 6.  

Make that 5 players at 7-under. Molinari joins the party. 

Four-way tie for the lead right now: Matsuyama, JT, Kisner and Stroud. 

The shrug. Yes. 

This one finallyyyyy drops for JT and puts him one back at 7-under. Phew, this is truly a game of inches. 

Stroud is making some moves of his own now. 

Another birdie from Fowler, things are heating up.  He's three shots back at 5-under.

Last major of the year, of course there will be some drama.

JT is on a ROLL.

Make that three in a row for Rickie. 

Wait for it, wait for it, wait for it...

Don't try this at home, folks. 

Reed has back-to-back birdies and he's 3-under, four shots back from the leader. 

Some shifting of the leaderboard here early.  JT goes bogey-birdie to hold at 5-under, Matsuyama bogeys to go back to 5-under. 
1. Kisner (-7)
T2. Matsuyama (-5)
T2. Thomas 
T2. Stroud
T5. Oosthuizen (-4)
T5. Murray

A lot at stake here, no matter which way you spin it. 

JT makes a big bogey save after finding three different bunkers on the 1st.  

Spieth is 3-under on his last four holes heading into the Green Mile now. 

McIlroy won't take home the $1.89 million, but he's tied for 22 right now and that could give him a nice $110,000. 

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

JT and Hideki are also chasing their first major...

Fowler came to play. 

 

Power moves only from Chris Stroud. (The pants help.)

Not the best news from McIlroy. 

Rory finishes the day with a final round of 68. 

Rory McIlroy birdies 14 and 15 before heading back to the Green Mile for one last time at the PGA Championship. 

Ian Poulter is keeping things interesting. 

Hasn't been the best week for Jordan Spieth. He leaves 7 after a double bogey aftter finding the water. 

Fourteen of the top 15 leaders at Quail Hollow are trying to win their first major. Could be 54th first-time major winner of the PGA Championship, and the third in the last three years (Jason Day, 2015; Jimmy Walker, 2016).

Best early round so far? Dustin Johnson has four birdies thru the front 9 holes. 

Fowler tees off at 1:25 p.m. 

Get to know Charlotte's Quail Hollow Club. 

Hailey Hernandez