2022 PGA Champs Final Day Sunday
Posted on May 23, 2022
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Final Day Sunday at PGA Champs
It was another tricky day for scoring at Southern Hills with gusty conditions testing players creativity and nerve. No one went lower than 67 though the volume of scores in the 60s was a little higher.
The only way Mito was losing this was through his own errors, which under pressure, can and has happened many times in the past to other players - with more experience.
And he held firm throughout, sure there were chinks in the armour coming down the stretch, but a clutch putt on 16, but the drive on 18 just went wrong.
All the while there was a pile of challengers queueing up and then faltering. Cam Young made double on 16, Fitzy made bogey on the birdie-hole-17th, Rory was again in it, before faltering on back 9 with a cold putter.
The status of champion bounced around a few times and there will be many who will claim missed opportunities. Ultimately JT stood up an put 1 hand on the Wanamaker followed by a 2nd after 2 birdies in the playoff.
Hitting the drivable 17th in the playoff to set up an eagle try was a rubber stamp of a dominant back nine all day Sunday.
JT finally remembered how to win again and now has 2 majors under the age of 30 to join a very elite crew. With a US Open and Open Championship ahead he will definitely be eyeing a 2nd major this year!
His demeanour and creativity has also found its match in his looper, Bones, who was loving to be back in the winners circle. And like every major champion, a great caddy is key and he provided calming words on the range on Saturday which proved crucial, “you don’t have to be perfect all the time, to win”. This proved powerful when JT shanked it on 6 and scrambled to make bogey!
Round of the Day
Lowest round of the day was 67 by a list of names: JT, Tommy, and Streels. Obviously the most significant was JT, who had a putt for a 66, but whose 67 was good enough for a playoff and ultimately the win!
Shot of the Day
The champion JT hit a beauty of a drive on 18 which was a deliciously flighted low-drive chasing down the fairway, but could not convert the birdie putt. He again produced magic on 17 in the playoff to set-up a 2-putt birdie.
Fitzy produced some real magic on 16 with his trustworthy left-hand-low chip to give himself a chance.
Performance of the Day
We predicted twists and turns, but not many would have said the leaders would finish on 5 under. Zala would have been backed to make a playoff, but not against a charging JT who literally came from nowhere and was the only player with a putt to win on the 18th!
The Leaders
The Chasers
The top 8s managed to lock their tickets into next year’s PGA Champs at Oak Hill, which is a small list and top 4s locking tickets to the US Open and Open Championship later this year.
Once again Zala was amongst it, with his 2nd matching the start of Ernie Els in majors with 5 top 10s in his first 5 starts. A few others like Abe Ancer and Power will also be buoyed by their top 10s and eager to now take the next step.
For a full view of the scores head to PGA Champs leaderboard and majorpunter leaderboard.
majorpunter Leaderboard:
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Final Day Sunday was filled with so much drama and although the eventual winner, HAYBS, romped home with in his team including both Zala and JT, there were much movement throughout.
WRPHILLIPS21 (2) made a late surge (after winning last year’s PGA Champs) with Tommy but also then faltered with Cam Young.
Rory had a say, Fitzy played a role and even Cam Young hurt Karols Kangaroos down the stretch too.
majorpunter Bottomboard:
| Rank | Team | Punter | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HAYBS | Nelson Long | -14 |
| 2 | WRPHILLIPS21 (2) | William Phillips | -9 |
| 3 | Creamy Goodness | Justin Hodgson | -7 |
| T4 | PigsInAblanket | James Lee | -6 |
| T4 | All or Nothing | Mike Adams | -6 |
| T4 | Karols Kangaroos | Karolina Wylie | -6 |
| 7 | Tee time | Claire Botha | -5 |
| 8 | Southern Hillbillys | Alec Schoeman | -4 |
| T9 | Figjam | Tony Johnson | -3 |
| T9 | Fitzmagic3 | Wil Harper | -3 |
Final Day Sunday was filled with so much drama and although the eventual winner, HAYBS, romped home with in his team including both Zala and JT, there were much movement throughout.
WRPHILLIPS21 (2) made a late surge (after winning last year’s PGA Champs) with Tommy but also then faltered with Cam Young.
Rory had a say, Fitzy played a role and even Cam Young hurt Karols Kangaroos down the stretch too.
| Rank | Team | Punter | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| T69 | Diamond Dogs! | Bruce Wylie | +35 |
| T69 | Westcobar-2 | Luke West | +35 |
| 71 | Shanks very much! | James Hobson | +36 |
| T72 | Team Buddy | Craig Fourie | +38 |
| T72 | D-Rocks Jocks 1 | Derek Fink | +38 |
| 74 | Jerry and Brad2 | Bradley Thigpen | +40 |
| 75 | GoochJohnsonArnaus | James Bisset | +41 |
| 76 | Bradthig3 | Bradley Thigpen | +42 |
| 77 | Disaster | Paul Erasmus | +46 |
| 78 | PokeyAU2 | Preston Barnes | +59 |
The bottomboard gobbled a few newbies who slid and slid fast.
PokeyAU2 locked up the bottom whilst Disaster edged quietly off it, narrowly missing out on the tumbling GoochJohnsonArnaus and Bradthig3.
You win some, you lose more. That’s what it takes to be the best. We’ll go again next month!
We are looking forward to the next major, the US Open at Oak Hill and Lefty’s chance to finally nail the Grand Slam if he plays...
For more news and information head over to majorpunter.