Here’s what we learned at the PGA Championship, the final major of 2016.
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If you didn’t spend the past four major Sundays continually bouncing off the edge of your couch, it might be time to check for a pulse. With only four events remaining, and with a major championship on his side, he is virtually a lock to be at Hazeltine on September 30.
I remember being impressed with Walker during his Ryder Cup debut in Gleneagles, Scotland in 2014.
“I remember when I left…”
He said: “I guess the only downside is we’re going to have to keep looking at his doggone beard!”
“After I hit the second shot into 18, I didn’t know what Jimmy did back on 17 because it was quite hard to hear. I’m not even close”.
Behind him, an even bigger roar. That’s no longer necessary.
Open champion Henrik Stenson, who is seeking a second major title in the space of three weeks following his victory at Royal Troon, was a shot further back alongside American Brooks Koepka after carding a third consecutive 67.
Kisner and Padraig Harrington, who shot 65 on Saturday and was at 4-under 206, only faced 18 holes and could move up the leaderboard if the top players struggled in thick, wet rough or had mud on their golf balls in the fairway.
The top eight automatically make the team.
“I was thinking positive”, he said. Should men pay into women’s KiwiSaver accounts? . Rickie Fowler is now No. 12. “I don’t need to give him stuff about that”.
This was the PGA Championship.
But that’s not the point.
Walker sank the biggest putt of his career to win his first major. I played great that week. That’s just the way it goes.
All he needs now is a victory. Watson and Nicklaus both thought this one was better. At the same moment on the 17th green, Walker was lining up a tough putt for a birdie of his own.
He hasn’t won since the 2013 British Open, a stretch of 68 tournaments worldwide. “I’m starting to see the shots again, what I’m visualizing, what I’m seeing and doing it easily now”.
“I just want to win, that’s all. I’m excited about where my game is”.
But he saved his best work for last.
“There was nothing easy about the day – really about the week, for that matter”, Walker said. “That’s a lifetime dream”. I couldn’t even tell you why I love competing and playing in them, but I just don’t know why the finishes have finished the way they have. You kind of wear yourself out.
Robert Streb wasn’t as fortunate.
“I just winged it over a lot, which was amusing enough, probably the best shot of the day, little three-quarter nine-iron, I just overcooked it [on 15] and went long and I made double and that was the end of it for me”. Five major wins is going to be the new 10 with how deep these fields are nowadays. He sure seems to be getting closer.
But Day, finishing up ahead, finally came alive by knocking in a 14-foot putt for an eagle and cutting Walker’s lead to a single stroke. “I never felt like I brought my “A” game”, said Stenson, who started the final round two shots behind and closed with a 71.
“I hope so. I think it’s such the right call”, he said. He missed the cut in the US and British Opens this year after a tie for 29th at the Masters. It was Day, the defending champion and world’s No. 1 player, down to his last chance and delivering with a 2-iron that landed in front of the pin and stopped 15 feet away for eagle. He tied for fifth in the U.S. Open.
In his post-tournament media session, Day sounded a bit wistful but said he had no regrets. “I’m going to sleep really well tonight after 34 holes of golf out there”.
No doubt all that took place on Sunday will help him down the road.
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“At the end of the day, all you can do is your best and Jimmy is a deserving victor. And I don’t know, I gave him a couple things and he ended up winning that week”.
