Written by Steve DiMeglio at USAToday.com
Texan Jimmy Walker was just moseying along Sunday afternoon, looking at ease despite his name resting atop the leaderboard on the final day of the 98th PGA Championship and world No. 1 Jason Day and reigning British Open champion Henrik Stenson on his heels.
The chaotic week full of storms, delays and odd decisions by tournament officials was behind Walker and the weight of trying to win his first major title wasn’t an issue. With nine pars to open his final 18 at waterlogged and muddyBaltusrol Golf Club, a comfortable, confident Walker was right where he started – winning the tournament and the battle with his nerves.
Then he delivered, fittingly enough, two lightning bolts that gave him breathing room on the back nine. And then one last par at the end got his name etched onto the Wanamaker Trophy and into history.
Walker’s first bolt came when he holed a bunker shot for birdie from 15 yards on the 10th, the second when he knocked in a 30-footer for birdie on the 11th. The burst of red numbers gave him a 2-shot advantage, and a huge birdie from 8 feet on the 17th made it 3 with one hole to play.
But with Day playing in the group ahead, Walker watched his nearest foe make an eagle from 13 feet on the par-5 final hole. Walker, now forced to make a par for the victory, left his second shot short and right in heavy, wet rough.
Walker didn’t buckle. With Day looking on, Walker chipped to 34 feet and two-putted from there, the last stroke from three feet, to close out a bogey-free, 3-under-par 67 to finish at 14 under and topple Day by one shot to win his first major championship.
To continue reading this article, click here.
