US PGA Championship takeaways: Thomas thrills, Woods withdraws and McIlroy's major miss

The US PGA Championship concluded in dramatic fashion early on Monday, with Justin Thomas triumphing in a play-off against Will Zalatoris. Here’s some of the biggest takeaways from a memorable tournament at Southern Hills Country Club.

We already knew Thomas was good. Elite, in fact. The American has spent time at world No 1, most likely in his mind all too briefly, had a major in the bag, and 15 PGA Tour victories overall – including the Players. Still, the solitary major, the PGA Championship in 2017, underwhelmed.

Thomas said as much pre-tournament, talking openly about how claiming a second major was harder than he imagined “internally”. Hence, coming from seven shots behind on Sunday – tying the largest 54-hole comeback to win in tournament history – spoke to not only Thomas’ mighty game, but his moxie.

The American, 29, is currently the best in the world with an iron in hand, evidenced throughout his final round, but his drive and approach under the gun on 18 truly underscored his titanic talent. Ditto the drives on 17 and 18 in the play-off. Thomas is a supreme artist, but he patently has the guts and the grit to go with it.

Ally that with adding vastly experienced caddie “Bones” MacKay on the bag, and it’s a heady mix, promising. Major wins can never be taken as a given, such is the current depth in the professional game. Thomas, though, should kick on even more now.

Will Zalatoris has finished in the top 10 five times in his first eight major starts. AFP

Zalatoris has less than two full seasons on the PGA Tour banked, but already he is a major player. The spindly American, 25, may be yet to win on the game’s lead circuit, but his performances in the grandest events thus far make for remarkable reading.

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