PGA Championship 2017: Jim Furyk looking eagerly at Ryder Cup with impressive weaponry
The sight of Justin Thomas being presented on Sunday night with the USPGA Championships Wanamaker Trophy confirmed that his squad will contain impressive new blood as it attempts to defend and even increase the victory margin of their 17-11 crushing of Europe at Hazeltine last year.
In the build up to Quail Hollow, the American focus of attention had been on Jordan Spieth and his attempt to wrestle away Tiger Woods’ claim to be the youngest man to complete the Grand Slam of golf’s four Majors.
However, there will have been few raised eyebrows of surprise among the US Tour fraternity as it turned out to be his close friend and fellow 24-year-old Thomas who shot a final round 68 to win by two shots.
Thomas has inbred sporting instincts hailing from Muhammad Ali’s hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, where he was introduced to golf at a young age by his father a local club teaching pro.
And it was not just his PGA win which saw him rise up to 10th place in the world when the latest ranking figures were issued in the early hours of yesterday morning.