Mito Pereira takes the positives after throwing away the PGA Championship
Mito Pereira made a disastrous double-bogey down the 18th to lose the PGA Championship, but the Chilean is holding his head high as he leaves Southern Hills.
Many players in the 104th PGA Championship left Southern Hills on Sunday evening thinking what might have been, but none more so than Chile's Mito Pereira who held a one-shot lead down the 72nd hole.
Pereira, who was bidding to win his maiden title on the PGA Tour in just his second major championship start at the PGA Championship, led by three shots heading into the final round on 9-under par.
He was briefly caught on the front nine but then edged back in front on the back nine, at one point stretching into a two-shot lead.
Pereira, 27, missed 10-footer for birdie on the 17th but still led by a solitary shot standing on the 18th tee box, with Justin Thomas and Will Zalatoris in the clubhouse on 5-under par.
With nerves jangling in a bid to win the PGA Championship on his debut, Pereira sent his drive into the water hazard and it led to a tournament-ending double-bogey six and a final-round 75.
It meant he finished the week in a tie for third alongside Cameron Young and one shot outside the playoff, eventually won by Thomas.
But despite the agony of making a mess of 18, Pereira will attempt to take the positives as tough as that might be right now.
"Obviously sad to be here and not in the playoff, not make par, just straight win," said a distraught Pereira.
"On 18, I wasn't even thinking about the water. I just wanted to put it in play, and I guess I aimed too far right. I just hit in the water.
"It's not how I wanted to end up this week, but really good result. Played really good. 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."
He added: "I just played really good golf, three days. Get a little bit of experience for this fourth in the final group on a tough course that you have to hit it well. If not, you're going to shoot 5-over. I just didn't hit it really well today, and for next time, I'll just be a little bit more prepared."
Next Page: Rory McIlroy declines media requests and storms out of the PGA Championship
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