PGA Championship: underdogs take a bite out of experienced field, as Chilean Mito Pereira seeks major breakthrough
- None of the players in top four has ever won on the PGA Tour, let alone a major title
- Pereira missed the cut in his only previous major tournament, the 2019 US Open
The PGA Championship’s underdogs had plenty of bite heading into Sunday’s final round in Tulsa, with none of the top four having ever won a PGA Tour event - let alone a major title.
Miserable conditions thrashed former major winners at Southern Hills Country Club but saw Chilean Mito Pereira, who missed the cut in his only prior major appearance at the 2019 U.S. Open, climb into the top spot after carding a one-under 69.
“It’s by far the biggest tournament I played, the biggest round of golf and tomorrow is going to be even bigger,” said Pereira, who withdrew from the Zurich Classic last month.
Sitting three strokes behind him were Briton Matt Fitzpatrick (67), who has collected seven wins on the DP Tour, formerly the European Tour, but never cracked the PGA circuit, and American Will Zalatoris.
Zalatoris (73) claimed his sole professional win on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2020, though his shock second-place finish at Augusta last year earned him a spot among golf’s beloved dark horses.
“Just stick to my game,” he said. “Got nothing to lose tomorrow. I know I’m playing some really good golf, and hopefully at the end of the day it adds up to the lower score.”
Rounding out the surprise cohort was American Cameron Young (67), who is four strokes back from the lead after finishing tied for third at RBC Heritage in April and second at the Wells Fargo Championship earlier this month.
