Going into the PGA Championship, hardly anyone expected Jhonattan Vegas to be the name at the top of the leaderboard.
At 40 years old, the Venezuelan golfer had flown mostly under the radar, but after the first round, he suddenly found himself leading the pack — a stunning turn of events for both fans and experts alike.
Even after the second round, he was still hanging in there, defying all odds.
Nerves Hit at the Crucial Moment on Saturday
Vegas showed incredible composure for most of the tournament, especially after his birdie on the 14th hole of the third round.
He looked calm and confident as he stepped onto the 15th tee, probably feeling that a major championship might actually be within reach.
But then disaster struck. His tee shot landed in the water, leading to a costly bogey at one of the toughest holes — the infamous ‘Green Mile.’
He managed to compose himself, parring the next two holes and stepping up to the 18th with a chance to stay within four shots of leader Scottie Scheffler.
However, after leaving a tricky five-footer for par, Vegas pulled his putt left, resulting in a second bogey over four holes.
That mistake likely dashed his hopes of securing the win.
A Career of Ups and Downs Makes His Run Even More Remarkable
Vegas’s run has been a bright surprise considering his career so far.
Despite winning four times on the PGA Tour, he’s never cracked the top 20 at a major before and missed the cut in nine of his previous 13 major appearances.
In fact, this was his first major qualification in three years.
So, seeing him storm up the leaderboard was thrilling for golf fans everywhere.
On day one, Vegas finished strong, firing five birdies over his last six holes, and he fought hard to keep pace with the top contenders like Scheffler, Jon Rahm, and Bryson DeChambeau.
Saturday’s Rough Start Tested His Resolve
Saturday wasn’t easy for Vegas, though. He stumbled early with back-to-back bogeys.
His approach shot at the first hole ended up close to a bunker, and from a tough spot with his heels hanging over the edge, he still managed to two-putt for bogey.
The struggles continued at the second hole when a wayward tee shot forced him to chip out from the trees, leading to another bogey. But instead of falling apart, Vegas showed true grit.
He settled down with four straight pars and then grabbed a birdie at the seventh hole, showing that he wasn’t giving up.
Moments of Opportunity and Near Misses
Vegas had a golden chance to retake the outright lead at the eighth hole after a strong drive on the par-four, but a three-putt from 26 feet kept him from making the most of it.
Meanwhile, Scheffler was gaining momentum on the back nine, racking up four birdies and an eagle on the tough 14th hole.
Despite this surge, Vegas kept hanging on with a string of pars before his impressive birdie on 14.
Scottie Scheffler Pulls Ahead, With Alex Noren Close Behind
Scheffler, chasing his third major title, ended the round at 11-under after balancing out three bogeys with seven birdies and that stunning eagle on 14.
Not far behind, Swedish golfer Alex Noren fired a brilliant 66 in the third round, closing the gap to just three shots behind the world number one thanks to four birdies in his last five holes.