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US golfer Justin Thomas wins PGA Championship

Justin Thomas poses with the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the PGA Championship golf tournament in Charlotte.

Justin Thomas poses with the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the PGA Championship golf tournament in Charlotte. Photo: AP

Justin Thomas has bagged a maiden major golf title with a come-from-behind victory at the US PGA Championship in North Carolina.

The 24-year-old American started the final round at Quail Hollow two shots off the pace, but the world No.14 stormed home with six birdies and three bogeys en route to a three-under par 68 and an eight-under total of 276, to win by two shots.

Italy’s Francesco Molinari (67), American Patrick Reed (67) and 2010 British Open winner Louis Oosthuizen (70) tied for second at six-under.

World No.3 Hideki Matsuyama missed out on his chance to become Japan’s first male major winner, slumping to a 72 on Sunday to share fifth place with No.10 Rickie Fowler (67) at five-under the card.

Playing in the penultimate group, 25-year-old Matsuyama and Thomas traded blows, and the lead, during a thrilling finish to the year’s final major.

Thomas began his round with a bogey but bounced back with a birdie immediately after.

Ranked ninth on the US PGA Tour for driving distance, Thomas picked up another shot on his opening nine holes to set up a back-nine charge.

With Matsuyama dropping two shots on the home stretch and overnight leader Kevin Kisner on his way to crashing out of contention with a 74, Thomas took the tournament by the scruff of the neck with three back-nine birdies.

Thomas salvaged a gutsy bogey at the par-4 18th after finding a fairway bunker off the tee to claim the PGA Championship’s Wanamaker trophy.

Australia’s Jason Day clawed back from his third-round collapse, firing a 70 on Sunday to finish one-under the card and tie for ninth.

The 2015 US PGA Championship winner Day effectively shot himself out of the tournament during Saturday’s third round with a quadruple-bogey at the par-4 18th hole leading to a nightmare 77.

Earlier, Victoria’s Marc Leishman signed off on the year’s final major with a four-under 67 to work his way back to an even-par total, sharing 13th place.

Fellow Australian Adam Scott signed for a solid 71 to finish at eight-over and tie for 61st.

– AAP

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