CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Justin Thomas’s birdie putt, the one that hung on the lip of the hole for a tick more than 10 seconds before dropping, encapsulated the patience that made his first major victory possible. But it was not the most indelible image from the 99th P.G.A. Championship.
The 7-iron tee shot that Thomas hit over the water on Quail Hollow Club’s par-3 17th to inside 16 feet epitomized the confidence that made possible an eight-under 276 on a course that yielded only a dozen subpar scores in the tournament. But it was not the most enduring image from the week.