CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Justin Thomas’s birdie putt, the one that hung on the lip of the hole for a tick more than 10 seconds before dropping, encapsulated the patience that made his first major victory possible. But it was not the most indelible image from the 99th P.G.A. Championship.

The 7-iron tee shot that Thomas hit over the water on Quail Hollow Club’s par-3 17th to inside 16 feet epitomized the confidence that made possible an eight-under 276 on a course that yielded only a dozen subpar scores in the tournament. But it was not the most enduring image from the week.

The most stirring image was the warm embrace on Sunday between Thomas and Jordan Spieth, who couldn’t have looked happier if he had won to become the sixth, and youngest, player to complete the men’s career Grand Slam.

Bless the PGA Tour’s millennials — the gym rat pack — for demonstrating that competition and camaraderie need not be mutually exclusive. From Rickie Fowler’s Saturday night tweet, “It’s on tomorrow,” to Spieth’s Sunday night exclamation, “That’s so awesome!” when he and Thomas hugged, the tour’s 20-something stars have a lot to teach us. They have beautiful swings, but what’s really worth copying is their collective and optimistic approach to sport.