Justin Thomas could have had those beers on Sunday after all

As it turns out, Justin Thomas might have had time for those beers after all. The forecasted wind that the former Alabama All-American was banking on to shake up the leaderboard never materialized at Aronimink Golf Club.

A Clubhouse Lead to Remember

Thomas put on a masterclass Sunday, carding a 5-under-par 65 that placed him in the clubhouse lead shortly after 3 p.m. He sat in the top spot for three hours, waiting for the rest of the field to finish, before Aaron Rai eventually moved ahead. The waiting game brought back memories for Thomas, who once found himself in a precarious position during a tournament in Hartford, Connecticut, where a post-round lunch turned into several beers while waiting for the results to settle.

"I’ve never not wanted to be in a playoff before, but I kind of didn’t want to be in a playoff then," Thomas joked about the potential consequences of such a long wait. "It wouldn’t have been a good situation, so I’m not going to do that. I promise you that."

Chasing the Wind

Coming into the final round six shots off the lead, Thomas knew he needed a miracle in the form of challenging weather. "I need some wind. I need a little help," Thomas said after his round. Despite his best efforts to post a low score, the conditions remained favorable for his competitors, and the wind simply didn't provide the obstacle he needed to stay at the top.

The performance followed a frustrating 2-over 72 on Saturday, a round that fueled Thomas's fire heading into Sunday. "I just felt like I couldn’t leave the golf course in the frame of mind I was in," he explained regarding his extended practice session the day before.

Final Standings and Looking Ahead

Aaron Rai ultimately captured the PGA Championship with a 9-under tournament score, finishing three shots ahead of runners-up John Rahm and Alex Smalley. Thomas settled for a tie for fourth alongside Ludvig Aberg and Matti Schmid, earning an $843,866.67 payday for his efforts.

While he didn't secure his third PGA Championship title, the finish marks his strongest performance since returning to the Tour following a microdiscectomy surgery last November to address recurring hip and spine issues.

"I’m trying to look at it as I’m never fully over it and I’m doing all the things I feel like I need to do," Thomas said, emphasizing his commitment to long-term physical maintenance. "The goal is to do my maintenance so then I don’t have another issue again."