'So cruel': Golf world gutted for star amid PGA Championship 'disaster'
Golf fans have been left shattered for Mito Pereira after the Chilean's hopes of winning a maiden major title went up in smoke on the final hole at Southern Hills.
Justin Thomas won the year's second major after victory over Will Zalatoris in a three-hole playoff in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
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However, Pereira was in pole position to win the Wanamaker Trophy in regulation, when he stepped up to the final hole with a one-stroke advantage over Thomas and Zalatoris.
The Chilean could even have had a two-stroke lead only to see his birdie putt at 17 stop agonisingly short of the hole, in an ominous sign of what was to come.
The 27-year-old inexplicably went too aggressive off the tee at the last and watched in horror as his ball rolled into the creek off the side of the fairway.
Pereira needed an 'up-and-down' to force his way into the playoff but missed a putt off the fringe after leaving his approach short and had to settle for a double bogey.
It saw the Chilean's one-stroke advantage evaporate in heartbreaking circumstances that left fans gutted for the rookie.
That is agony for Mito Pereira, but that is golf in a nutshell #PGAChampionship2022
— Chisomo Y Mwale (@ChisomoYM) May 22, 2022
Niemann is absolutely gutted for Mito Pereira. Nothing crueler in golf than a 72nd hole disaster #PGAChamp
— David Gorman (@DavidGorman20) May 22, 2022
What a disaster on 18 by Mito Pereira
— 🅿️at (@PatrickGarrett_) May 22, 2022
Feel awful for Mito Pereira
— Sterling 🎰 (@SterlingRettke) May 22, 2022
Mito Pereira won’t be able to sleep tonight. That’s an awful way to lose a golf tournament.
— Shoe (@2turnturfraces) May 22, 2022
Gutted for Mito Pereira. One-shot lead on the 18th and drives into the water and misses out on the play-off. That’s golf for ya.
— Ben King (@BenKing96) May 22, 2022
Gutted for Mito Pereira .... for a top 200 guy to shank it away so close to winning a major will be very hard to move past 😭
— Sujay Jaswa (@sujayjaswa) May 22, 2022
Gutted for Mito Pereira :(((( Sport is so cruel.
— Padraig Harrington Tracker (@PadraigHTracker) May 22, 2022
Justin Thomas clinches second PGA Championship
"It's tough to finish like that," a clearly dejected Pereira said in an interview afterwards.
The Chilean ended up finishing in a tie for third with American Cameron Young at four-under - which still represented his best ever finish at a major and first top-20 placing of the year.
Thomas and Zalatoris matched each other with birdies on the first of three playoff holes, before the former rolled in another one at the next to go to 18 with a handy advantage.
Zalatoris had a long birdie chance on 18 to put the pressure on Thomas in the three-hole aggregate playoff.
When it came up short, Thomas knew he could two-putt for victory and was left with little more than a tap-in after rolling his first effort close.
It was the second time Thomas has won the PGA Championship after also claiming the Wanamaker Trophy in 2017 at Quail Hollow.
Thomas overcame a seven-shot final-round deficit with a Sunday 67 to finish at five-under par after 72 holes, before his two birdies in the play-off sealed the stunning victory.
Zalatoris closed with a one-over 71 to join Thomas in the unlikely playoff after Pereira's implosion.
Englishmen Tommy Fleetwood (67) and Matthew Fitzpatrick (73) and American Chris Kirk (68) shared fifth at three under.
Cameron Smith (69) and Lucas Herbert (71) finished as the leading Australians in a tie for 13th at even par for the championship.
with agencies
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