It was a thrilling and traumatic finish to the second major of the season and Justin Thomas is now a multi-major winner.
As always, heartbreak is never too far away when it comes to the climax.
Will Zalatoris will go down as the unlucky loser in the history books as he succumbed to Thomas in the three hole play-off.
However, the history books might fail to tell the full story.
Mito Pereira finished with a double bogey to miss the play-off and lose a huge opportunity to claim a major title.
Golf can be a cruel mistress and it was never more apparent than on the 72nd hole. The Chilean is in his rookie season on Tour so it would have been career-changing had he parred the final hole to win.
His composure post round showed that he is made of stern stuff and while he will never forget this missed opportunity, he can draw a lot from it in terms of building his career.
But to the victor goes the spoils. Thomas will gleefully take his victory and try to move through the gears and boost his CV.
He is a huge talent and has a winning habit. He has yet to reach his 30s and has a hall of fame career.
The Tiger factor has had a huge impact on his career, and Woods really has become a mentor for Thomas.
The next major is less than a month away, however, and many of the top players in the world will be doing some soul searching after a very hollow week.
It was a tournament that lacked that sprinkle of stardust but it reminded us that professional golf is littered with some fine young players coming through. The supporting cast to the stars is strong.
It is also a reminder that golf is such a fickle sport that you can’t turn it on like a light.
The Rory charge never materialised. Many pundits have lamented his slow start in majors and the first round was what all Rory fans wanted. He got the fast start but didn’t sustain his pressure on the leaderboard.
He can take many positives – second and eighth is progress in the first two majors of the year.
Still, he will be bitterly disappointed not to kick on.
Only three of the top 25 in the world rankings finished ahead of him so he is trending. The issue with golf is that somebody always has a week and nowadays so many are capable.
There is no choice but to build and look forward to his next opening.
More Power to his elbow as he progresses
Seamus Power was next after our leading home player and again cemented his progress in the world of golf.
It was only his second major appearance and it shows how far he has come that he is leaving Oklahoma disappointed with a first top 10 finish on this stage.
He too had his chances, but I am sure on reflection he will continue to learn and grow more comfortable at the top table of golf.
On reflection, the mother nature factor had a huge influence on the outcome of the tournament.
The winner came from the toughest side of the draw and that is something that will haunt Rory McIlroy – he caught a break with the draw and didn’t capitalise.
In every aspect of the week, the challenge asked all the questions that a major should.
There was tough weather on a very demanding course that added to the challenge, but the PGA did a fantastic job in the course set up that ensured it was a fair but difficult test.
PGA could go on tour in future..
The burning question is where the PGA Championship is going. It felt different watching the conclusion on Sunday night.
I knew there was more at stake for these players, you could visibly see the weight of history on some of those faces.
That is what a major brings. But I would also love to see a different part of the world get to celebrate or showcase this great championship.
Greg Norman is all about world tours and growing the game. Obviously, his model is flawed and has a different agenda, but there is something to a major championship happening outside of Europe and America.
Australia and South Africa offer much in this regard and Asia should also have eyes for a major on their continent. The PGA is a global brand and it would be possible to sell it.
The Olympics will take time to develop but with a major going outside of the states and Europe it would be a good signal to grow the game. It is also a factor for the women’s game.
The southern hemisphere is not getting its fair share and you while can’t invent history, with an established brand it might be possible to keep it.
The PGA Tour broke away from the PGA to develop what has been one of the greatest success stories financially. The players have the power and some have the appetite for change – maybe this could tick a few boxes without upsetting the ecosystem of the professional tours.
It is possible to build some tournaments around a new location and enhance the product for all. I realise that corporate America is a powerful ally in all of this but most have a global reach and emerging markets could be a factor here, too.
It is food for thought but the latest edition didn’t disappoint. We got a worthy champion in Justin Thomas and a heart-breaking loss for a Cinderella story with Mito Pereira, and that is sport in a nutshell.
Betting slip
Dutch Open
Adrian Meronk 25/1 EW
Form is trending and he is sure to be in the mix.
Dean Burmester 33/1 EW
Powerful South African can put USPGA experience to good use.
JB Hansen 50/1 EW
Good each way price for a multiple winner.
Charles Schwab Challenge
Webb Simpson 33/1 EW
Does seem to be returning to form.
Brian Harman 50/1 EW
Has a good skill set for the Colonial test.
Ian Poulter 100/1 EW
Long overdue a big week and this could be it.
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