Stuart Franklin(Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)CHARLOTTE — The PGA of America is fond of saying, “Behind every good player is a club pro.” The same can be said for men and fathers. In the case of Justin Thomas, they are one and the same.
Justin's father, Mike, has been the head professional at Harmony Landing outside Louisville for almost three decades. His grandpa, Paul, was also a club pro, serving in Zanesville, Ohio. The PGA is in Thomas' blood, making his victory at Quail Hollow poetically apropos.
“I can't put it into words,” Thomas said after his round. “It is (terrific), and to have dad here, and let alone a PGA, but to have him here…it's great. It really is.”
Thomas is far from the first son of a PGA professional to win the Wanamaker; he's actually the eighth player to do so. Conversely, Thomas' family bond with the game has always been at the forefront of his story.
When his father was busy giving lessons or tending the shop, Justin woul..

Stuart FranklinCHARLOTTE, NC – AUGUST 13: Justin Thomas of the United States poses with the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the 2017 PGA Championship during the final round at Quail Hollow Club on August 13, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Thomas finished with an -8. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)The final round of the 99th PGA Championship gave us another first-time major winner, a couple of heartbreaking finishes, and some amazing highlights. Let's wrap it all up with one last edition of winners and losers.
Winner: Justin Thomas
What a performance to capture a first major championship, specifically, what a nine-hole stretch from holes 9-17. Thomas made the turn after draining a long putt on No. 9 and the mojo carried over with the 24-year-old on No. 10. He yanked his tee shot left, but it hit a tree and bounced out to the middle of the fairway, and then, after seemingly leaving his birdie putt hanging on the lip, this happened:
https://twitter.com/PGA/status/896837186..

FacebookPinterestSteven GibbonsSophia Schubert holds the Robert Cox Trophy after winning the U.S. Women's Amateur at San Diego Country Club on Sunday. (Copyright USGA/Steven Gibbons)

CHULA VISTA, Calif. — Sophia Schubert was not yet four when her mother took her down to Fairways and Greens Golf Center in Knoxville, Tenn., to learn a game that would allow her to enjoy time with her father.
“I remember her always with a bright little grin on her face that also reached her eyes and lit them up as well,” her instructor Nicole Weller said. “Just a happy golfing girl with that classic curly-hair ponytail, who was always giggling while having a good time at the course or range. Think she started out with the Snoopy clubs and always had great balance and a silky smooth swing.”
Only her equipment has changed. Schubert is still giggling, still grinning, and on Sunday at San Diego Country Club she had as good a time as she likely has ever had on a golf course.
Schubert, 21, a University of ..

Sam GreenwoodCHARLOTTE, NC – AUGUST 13: Justin Thomas of the United States reacts to his birdie putt on the 13th green during the final round of the 2017 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club on August 13, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)Before he even hit his first shot at the PGA Championship, Justin Thomas had already produced the best season of his career in 2016-2017. The 24-year-old won three times, shot a 59 and made over $5 million. If he wasn't in the player of the year conversation already, he became the favorite to win that award on Sunday at Quail Hollow, carding a final round three-under 68 to capture his first major championship victory.
Thomas began his round by holing a 14-foot bogey putt at the par-4 first that gave him a bit of momentum, which he used to make a birdie at the second. After another bogey at three, he really settled in, adding birdies at the seventh and ninth to turn in two-under 34. At the par-5 10th, he prov..

Streeter Lecka/Getty ImagesJustin Thomas lines up a putt on the fourth green during the second round of the 2017 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club.Justin Thomas won the PGA Championship for the first major title of his career (and fourth of the season) at Quail Hollow Club, using a display of power off the tee and touch on the greens.
Thomas averaged 328 yards off the tee using his Titleist 917DF2 driver (with a Mitsubishi Diamana BF60 TX shaft) and posted a strokes gained/putting mark of 1.818 for the 72 holes and an impressive 2.397 stokes gained/putting on Sunday (considerably better than his .224 mark for the season) en route to the title. However, the shot that might have been the clincher was the mammoth 221-yard 7-iron to 14 feet, 6 inches that he was then able to convert for birdie on the par-3 17th hole that gave him enough cushion to survive a final-hole bogey. That shot was struck with Titleist’s prototype 718 MB 7-iron and the putt was made with a Scotty Cameron by Titl..

Icon SportswireRory McIlroy looks towards the gallery from the 7th green during the final round of the PGA Championship.CHARLOTTE — Rory McIlroy will fly back to Northern Ireland to meet with his trainer Steve McGregor this week to assess the state of a lingering rib injury. From there he’ll decide when and where he will play next. As the reigning FedEx Cup champion, his plan is to play in the PGA Tour’s Playoffs.
If he’s entirely healthy, however, why would he? It’s a good question.
“I don’t know,” said McIlroy, who shot 68 Sunday to end his week at the PGA Championship at one-over 285 to finish without a major for a third straight year. “I feel a sense of not duty, but I’ve missed a lot of time already. If I’m capable of playing, I feel like why shouldn’t you. But then at the same time, if you are not capable of playing at your best, why should you play?
“I don’t know what I’m going to do. You might not see me until next year. You might see me in a couple of weeks’ time.”
McIlroy sai..