In a dramatic turn of events during the 2025 PGA Championship, Justin Thomas delivered one of the most unforgettable moments of the tournament, narrowly escaping what could have been a catastrophic hole—and in doing so, left viewers and commentators alike stunned by his sheer composure and skill.
It happened on the back nine of the third round, where tension had already reached a boiling point. Thomas, who was hovering near the top of the leaderboard and in strong contention for his third PGA Championship title, found himself facing a nightmare scenario. After a slightly misjudged tee shot on the par-4 14th hole, his ball veered dangerously toward a hazard-lined rough area to the right. The broadcast camera followed as it landed inches from a deep bunker, surrounded by gnarly grass and a tricky downhill slope. It was a lie that had derailed many competitors earlier in the day.
Spectators watching from the fairway and those tuned in at home held their breath. Thomas approached the ball cautiously, sizing up a nearly impossible shot. From his vantage point, he had three unappealing options: punch out safely but give up a shot, attempt a risky flop over the bunker, or go for the green and risk losing everything to the hazard.
What happened next was pure brilliance.
In what golf analyst Brandel Chamblee later called “one of the gutsiest and most technically impressive shots of the tournament,” Thomas opted for a high, soft pitch that required pinpoint accuracy and masterful control. With a short backswing and a perfectly timed release, he struck the ball cleanly, sending it soaring over the bunker with just enough spin to stop within six feet of the pin. The gallery erupted in disbelief and applause, while social media exploded with clips of the shot, many labeling it “pure magic” and “career-defining.”
But Thomas wasn’t done yet.
He calmly lined up the putt and drained it for a par save, walking off the green with a fist pump and a look of quiet determination. The moment marked a crucial turning point in his round, and possibly the championship. While others faltered under pressure, Thomas’s ability to dig deep, stay mentally sharp, and execute with such precision reminded everyone why he’s considered one of the most mentally tough competitors in modern golf.
In his post-round interview, Thomas humbly brushed off the growing buzz surrounding the shot. “I knew it was a tough spot,” he said. “But these are the kinds of moments you prepare for. You trust the work, you trust the feel, and sometimes it works out exactly how you imagined it.”
The shot will undoubtedly be replayed for years to come as a highlight not only of the 2025 PGA Championship but of Thomas’s storied career. For fans, it was a moment of high drama and world-class golf—an iconic save that perfectly encapsulated the intensity and unpredictability of major championship play.
As the tournament heads into its final day, all eyes will remain on Justin Thomas. If he does go on to capture the Wanamaker Trophy again, many will point back to that daring save on the 14th as the moment the championship was truly won.
