The week began with Jordan Spieth's quest for a career Grand Slam, and it never got out of the gates. Youth is taking over the highest level of golf, and there were times Thomas felt left behind. Rory McIlroy already had four majors when he was 25. Jordan Spieth, a close friend since they were 14, won his third major at the Open last month to give him three legs of the career Grand Slam.
"Frustration probably isn't the right word," Thomas said. "Jealously definitely is. I wanted to be doing that, and I wasn't."
Indeed, Sunday at Quail Hollow was his moment.
Starting the final round two shots behind the clubhouse leader, Thomas closed with a 3-under 68 for a two-shot victory to capture the last Major of the year. It required a little bit of luck - his tee shot bounced out of a tree and into the fairway on the par-5 10th, which ended with his 8-foot putt teetering on the edge of the cup for 12 seconds before gravity finally took over, and the ball dropped for birdie.
He seised control on the back nine with a chip-in for birdie from 40 feet on the par-3 13th. Above all, it required plenty of grit, and Thomas showed plenty of that.
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