Sports Shorts: Disappointing finish to PGA Championships for Lahiri; Thomas win

Disappointing finish to PGA Championships for Lahiri

India's Anirban Lahiri finished the week in the 99th PGA Championships on a rather disappointing note with a round of 78.

Put alongside his earlier rounds of 72-73 and 76, he finished at 15-over 299 and in dead last position 75th.

Trying to look at positives Lahiri said, "Well my driving this week was great and I found a lot of fairways except on last day, when nothing worked and it kept slipping away. But putting and chipping were a major let down."

The leaders Kevin Kisner (-7) and Chris Stroud (-6), as also Hideki Matsuyama (-6) and Justin Thomas (-5), were yet to start their final round. All four are looking for their maiden Major.

Only one player, Louis Oostuhuizen (-5), has won a Major from the Top-15 at the end of 54 holes.

Dripping with sweat under sweltering weather, Lahiri tried to remember when he last had nine bogeys in a single round.

"I can't remember at least in my professional career," he said with a wry smile.

Thomas wins PGA Championship for first major title

Justin Thomas capped off a major season that belonged to an aggressive new breed of fearless young Americans when he stormed to a two-stroke victory at the PGA Championship on Sunday.

At 24, he followed in the footsteps of then-23-year-old Jordan Spieth's British Open triumph and the U.S. Open victory by 27-year-old Brooks Koepka, suggesting a bright future for American golf.

Thomas, one of the longest drivers on tour, started the final major of the year ranked 14th in the world, not one of the favourites after recent poor form, but came through by executing under pressure as many of his rivals withered.

"I just had an unbelievable calmness throughout the week, throughout the day," Thomas said after lifting the Wanamaker Trophy. "I really truly felt I was going to win. I was just very confident. I didn’t get flustered.

"I was a lot more calm than I thought I would be. I thought I would be very shaky. At one point I looked at my hand it was a little shaky but that’s why you play."

The serenity served Thomas well after a slow start, as he bided his time before vaulting to the front with four birdies in a sizzling seven-hole stretch mid-round.

He then held firm over the dangerous final water-lined three holes, known as the 'Green Mile', hoisting a seven-iron to 15-foot at the par-three 17th before sinking the putt to all but secure victory, a bogey at the last academic as he carded 68 to finish at eight-under 276.

Nishikori skips Cincinnati Masters due to injury

Japan's Kei Nishikori has become the latest top 10 player to pull out of this week's Cincinnati Masters after the world number nine withdrew from the U.S. Open warmup event due to pain from a long-standing right wrist injury.

The 27-year-old, who had been seeded fifth and given a first-round bye, had flown to the host city before making the call to withdraw.

"Unfortunately I will not be able to play in Cincy," Nishikori wrote in English on his official app.

"Today (Sunday) during practice I felt a sharp pain in my right wrist and we are now visiting with the medical specialists to discuss the diagnosis. We will provide more details after we have more information."

Nishikori joins world number one Andy Murray, last year's champion Marin Cilic, U.S. Open winner Stan Wawrinka and 12-times major champ Novak Djokovic on the list of players skipping the event through injury.

Both Wawrinka (knee) and Djokovic (elbow) have opted to end their seasons early to recover from their ailments, while Murray (hip) faces the prospect of losing his top ranking should either Rafa Nadal or Roger Federer win the Cincinnati event.

The U.S. Open is the final grand slam of the year and runs from Aug. 28-Sept. 10 in New York.