Where Justin Thomas' 2017 PGA Championship comeback ranks in history

After the first round of the 2017 PGA Championship, Kevin Kisner and Thorbjørn Olesen sat atop the leaderboard at 4-under. Five players were just a shot back, and seven more lurked two strokes behind.

None of them were Justin Thomas.

In his first round, Thomas shot a 2-over 73 — finishing six shots behind the leaders. Three days later, he would win the Wanamaker Trophy, collecting the first major win of his career.

To do so, he survived the worst first round by a PGA Championship winner since 1989.

Here’s how that performance stacks up in the history of the PGA Championship:

Of the 60 golfers to win the PGA Championship, only 15 have shot over par in Round 1. 

Year	Champion	Round 1 score	Round 2 score	Round 3 score	Round 4 score	FINAL
1978	John Mahaffey	4	-4	-3	-5	-8
1974	Lee Trevino	3	-4	-2	-1	-4
1989	Payne Stewart	2	-6	-3	-5	-12
2017	Justin Thomas	2	-5	-2	-3	-8
1962	Gary Player	2	-3	-1	Even	-2
1960	Jay Hebert	2	-3	2	Even	1
1986	Bob Tway	1	-1	-7	-1	-8
2008	Pádraig Harrington	1	4	-4	-4	-3
2009	Yang Yong-eun	1	-2	-5	-2	-8
1959	Bob Rosburg	1	2	-2	-4	-3
1973	Jack Nicklaus	1	-3	-3	-2	-7
2011	Keegan Bradley	1	-6	-1	-2	-8
2007	Tiger Woods	1	-7	-1	-1	-8
1972	Gary Player	1	1	-3	2	1
1968	Julius Boros	1	1	Even	-1	1

The worst belongs to John Mahaffey, who in 1978 shot a 4-over at Oakmont Country Club, putting him eight shots behind leader Tom Watson. Mahaffey would go on to shoot 12-under in his final 54 holes — the fifth-best final 54 in the major’s history.

The best-ever final 54 belongs to Jason Day, whose 4-under on Thursday was his worst round of the tournament. Over the next three days, he strung together a 67-66-67 (16-under) on the Par-72 Straits Course at Whistling Straits.

Tiger Woods’ third PGA Championship win, in 2006, was fueled by a 15-under performance from Friday to Sunday at Medinah Country Club.

Year	Champion	Round 1 score	Round 2 score	Round 3 score	Round 4 score	FINAL	Final 54	RANK
2015	Jason Day	-4	-5	-6	-5	-20	-16	1
2006	Tiger Woods	-3	-4	-7	-4	-18	-15	2
1989	Payne Stewart	2	-6	-3	-5	-12	-14	3
1995	Steve Elkington	-3	-4	-3	-7	-17	-14	3
1978	John Mahaffey	4	-4	-3	-5	-8	-12	5
1984	Lee Trevino	-3	-4	-5	-3	-15	-12	5
2000	Tiger Woods	-6	-5	-2	-5	-18	-12	5
2010	Martin Kaymer	Even	-4	-5	-2	-11	-11	8
2001	David Toms	-4	-5	-5	-1	-15	-11	8
2014	Rory McIlroy	-5	-4	-4	-3	-16	-11	8
2017	Justin Thomas	2	-5	-2	-3	-8	-10	11
2002	Rich Beem	Even	-6	Even	-4	-10	-10	11
1988	Jeff Sluman	-2	-1	-3	-6	-12	-10	11
1993	Paul Azinger	-2	-5	-2	-3	-12	-10	11

Thomas’ final 54 is tied for the 11th best in the history of the championship at 10-under, thanks to a 66-69-68 on a Par-71.

But while Thomas’ turnaround was certainly one to remember, it isn’t the most impressive. Statistically speaking, that probably belongs to Padraig Harrington. 

In 2008, at Oakland Hills, Harrington was 5-over heading into the weekend, six shots off the lead. His 8-under weekend gave him a 2-stroke win, and the honor of the PGA Champion with the worst-ever first 36 holes.

Year	Champion	Round 1 score	Round 2 score	Round 3 score	Round 4 score	FINAL	First 36	RANK
2008	Pádraig Harrington	1	4	-4	-4	-3	5	1
1959	Bob Rosburg	1	2	-2	-4	-3	3	2
1972	Gary Player	1	1	-3	2	1	2	3
1968	Julius Boros	1	1	Even	-1	1	2	3
1976	Dave Stockton	Even	2	-1	Even	1	2	3
1978	John Mahaffey	4	-4	-3	-5	-8	0	6
1986	Bob Tway	1	-1	-7	-1	-8	0	6
1963	Jack Nicklaus	-2	2	-2	-3	-5	0	6
1970	Dave Stockton	Even	Even	-4	3	-1	0	6
1966	Al Geiberger	-2	2	-2	2	0	0	6
…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…
2017	Justin Thomas	2	-5	-2	-3	-8	-3	T23

So next time your favorite player fails to see a negative scorecard until the weekend, don’t worry. We’re saying there’s a chance.