Louisville native Justin Thomas wins his second major championship.

LOUISVILLE, KY (May 22, 2022) - For the second time in his career, Justin Thomas has won the PGA Championship. The Louisville native won at Southern Hills Country Club on Sunday to collect his second major title, following up his win at Quail Hollow Club in 2017.

Thomas’ victory in Tulsa tied for the third-largest comeback starting a final round in men’s major championship history. He was seven back of overnight leader Mito Pereira to begin the day and fell eight behind early in the goings of Thomas’ fourth round following a bogey on the 3^rd hole. Thomas clawed his way back to contention, however, with consecutive birdies on the 11^th and 12^th holes being especially key in getting back in the mix.

A birdie on the drivable par-four 17^th coupled with a double bogey on the 18^th hole from Pereira led to Thomas getting in a three-hole aggregate playoff with Will Zalatoris. Thomas made birdies on the first and second holes of that playoff, becoming the first player in the tournament’s history to accomplish that feat. Ironically, in what was the fifth occurrence of a three-hole playoff at the PGA, the first occurred at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville when Tiger Woods defeated Bob May in 2000 - a tournament Thomas attended when he was seven years old.

With a par on his 75^th hole of the championship, Thomas secured the Wanamaker Trophy once again and became the first Kentuckian to ever win multiple major championships. It’s the fourth instance of a male from Kentucky winning a major championship, with the others being Bobby Nichols winning the 1964 PGA Championship, Gay Brewer, Jr. winning The Masters in 1967, and Thomas’ victory in North Carolina five years ago.

Thomas’ triumph in this event is especially significant given the family’s lineage to the PGA of America. His grandfather Paul was a prominent Teaching Professional in Ohio while Mike, his father, has enjoyed a successful career of his own at Big Spring Country Club – Harmony Landing Course. Mike is also a Past President of the Kentucky PGA Section. The Thomas family’s connection to the Association is now that much stronger with Thomas having won its premier trophy for the second time, the 22^nd player to ever win the Wanamaker Trophy more than once.

He will attempt to defend his title in 2023 at Oak Hill Country Club in New York before having the opportunity to play in his native city at Valhalla Golf Club in 2024 when the 106^th PGA Championship takes place in Louisville.

About the Kentucky PGA:
The Kentucky PGA Section (KPGA) is one of forty-one Sections across the country representing the PGA of America and its Members. It is also one of three organizations encompassed within Golf House Kentucky, which also includes the Kentucky Golf Association (KGA) and Kentucky Golf Foundation (KGF). The KPGA contains more than 275 Members and more than 30 Associates working in various roles across Kentucky; all of whom share the goal of bettering the game and its players. The KPGA and its Members assist with the organization of many chief growth-of-the-game initiatives including PGA HOPE and PGA Jr. League among others. The Section also operates more than thirty tournaments throughout the golf season, including the Kentucky Open and qualifiers for the Barbasol Championship.

Media Contact:
Ethan Fisher, PGA | Golf House Kentucky | efisher@kygolf.org | (502) 792-9703