Although it wasn’t the finish Mito Pereira was hoping for Sunday, he can still leave the PGA Championship with his head held high – and a very solid result.
Pereira, who held the 54-hole lead, couldn’t make the par he needed on the final hole of the Championship to join the playoff between Will Zalatoris and Justin Thomas.
Instead, he finished tied for third alongside Cameron Young.
“It’s not how I wanted to end up this week, but really good result. Played really good,” said Pereira.
The three-time winner on the Korn Ferry Tour last season was even par through six holes but bogeyed No’s 7 and 8. He added a birdie on the par-5 13th, but his tee shot on the tricky 18th found the water and he couldn’t salvage the bogey he needed.
“I wasn’t even thinking about the water. I just wanted to put it in play, and I guess I aimed too far fight. I just hit it in the water,” said Pereira.
He shot a 5-over 70.
Pereira had a 12-foot attempt for birdie on the short 17th hole, but it finished just three inches short.
“That putt... I just hit it really good, really good line, and just didn’t go in,” said Pereira. “If I would have made that, it was a little different, but still, I have to (make) par on 18 to win a major you know.”
Pereira had a collection of family and friends waiting for him behind the 18th green, including PGA Tour winner Joaquin Niemann.
“It would be nice if I would have win, but it was nice to see all the guys there. It was a great week for me there also,” he said.
For both Pereira and Young it was their best-career result at the PGA Championship.
And despite the heart-breaking conclusion, Pereira says there were still enough highlight moments for him to carry ahead to more PGA Championships – and perhaps the winner’s circle.
“The up-and-down on 10 was just unreal. Then on 16... I make that putt and then on 17 just one more roll to get in, short and on-line. Just good memories from this tournament,” he said.
“Today I was really nervous. I tried to handle it a little bit but it’s really tough. I thought I was going to win on 18, but it is what it is. We’ll have another one.”
