Just two weeks ago, he was competing in Scotland, and although he didn’t contend at The Open, he was there for four days.
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We’ve picked out a number of shots from the third and fourth rounds on a marathon Sunday following Saturday’s storms, with Thongchai Jaidee and Adam Scott both contributing brilliant hole-outs from the fairway.
Stenson was in contention for back-to-back majors until a double bogey on the 15th ended his chances, the 40-year-old Swede having to settle for a tie for seventh with playing partner Martin Kaymer, who eagled the last in a closing 66.
British Open champion Henrik Stenson and Brooks Koepka were another shot back. It was indeed the most deserving victory.
“The popularity of major champions is always easy to determine”.
And then Friday, Streb became the 28th player to post a 63 when he made a 20-foot birdie on his final hole at Baltusrol.
“He just didn’t play that well that week but he kept his cool”, said his wife, Erin, who rushed the 18th green with their two sons after he made the final putt.
Stenson’s second shot on No. 15 went past the green into the rough before he scuffed his next shot 15 feet ahead without reaching the green.
Day, who won the PGA previous year at Whistling Straits for his long-awaited major victory, showed off his wondrous talents and competitive grit by turning up the heat on Walker by firing a two-iron to the green on the par-five last hole and draining the putt for eagle that forced Walker to par for the win.
Walker never looked concern, even if his heart was pounding.
“They are two blemishes, but stuff like that can kind of relax you sometimes, and for me it did”, said Day, who made three birdies and the final eagle without any more bogeys.
“There was nothing easy about the day – really about the week, for that matter”, Walker said.
On the 17th hole, he nervelessly converted an eight-foot putt seconds after Day had played a 254-yard approach to the hole in front to eagle range. Harmon obliged but refused payment – so the golfer sent him a $1,200 bottle of Chateau Margaux to be opened when he won a major. Yes, he’s a late bloomer, though most of that was due to some nagging injuries when he first got on the PGA Tour. He could hit the ball with power, and his putting is what other players envy. Does that spring the sport forward after guys such as Day, Jordan Spieth, and Rory McIlroy pumped so much excitement into it during these past two years?
He went 1-1-3 at Gleneagles as a Ryder Cup rookie, beating Lee Westwood in singles.
“The two iron into the green was probably one of the best two irons I’ve ever hit into a par five, especially under the circumstances”.
Walker showed his intentions with an exceptional third-round back nine, coming home in just 32 as defending champion Jason Day and recent Open victor Henrik Stenson loomed. The Ryder Cup was starting to seem like a long shot.
One week changed everything.
He carded a 68 to take a one-shot lead over defending champion Day, who had shot a 67, into the afternoon’s final round.
Walker and Day can be considered neighbors during their PGA Tour travels. They often park next to each other, or at least on the same property.
The 37-year-old from Oklahoma continues a run of five consecutive first-time major winners.
The third and fourth rounds were going on at the same time and with different rules.
Jimmy Walker won the PGA Championship title on Sunday and his celebration had a lot of people buzzing more than his golf game.
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On Monday morning, Walker was headed to NY for a media tour before taking some time to digest what happened.
