“It was a battle the whole day”, said Walker, a five-time victor on the United States tour. “I didn’t really give myself many chances and it was a little disappointing not to birdie the last, but such is life”.
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“Day really put it on me to make par”, Walker said of the final hole.
Daniel Summerhays finished in third position after accelerating with six birdies in the final ten holes of his fourth round to enter the clubhouse at ten-under par.
Harrington – who shot 65 on Saturday – was among the early starters after officials made a decision to send players out for the final round in the same groups as the third round following Saturday’s weather-related early suspension of play.
The water-soaked course nudged organisers into using preferred lies, or “lift, clean and place” rules, in the last round, believed to be a first in major golf history.
Jimmy Walker celebrates after winning the PGA Championship golf tournament at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J., Sunday, July 31, 2016.
“I just had not quite played as well as I would have liked to this year but I knew it was close”.
Day confirmed his status as the game’s best player by making his eagle and taking his score to 13-under.
Groups kept their third-round pairings for the last round in another time-saving bid.
Walker revealed that he had considered the safe option of laying up at the par five 18th before opting to try and find the green, adding: “I figured 19 times out of 20 you’re going to make a five going for the green from right there”. Then he would have had an easy pitch unto to the green for a likely easy two-putt to win.
Yet Day’s reaction on his way to the green on the final hole told the story of the competition.
As Walker approached his putt, a loud roar could be heard from the par-5 18th.
“I think it just goes to show the strength and depth throughout golf at the moment”. Nothing in golf comes easy.
Jason Day had another near miss at a major championship, but not before he gave a major scare to eventual victor Jimmy Walker on the 72nd hole of the Australian’s defence of the PGA Championship.
Walker used a fairway wood on his second shot to attempt and reach the green. Walker won his first career major by one stroke over the No. 1 player in the world, Jason Day.
Day began the week fighting fatigue and illness, having never played the 7,428-yard layout until a practice round on the eve of the event. He’d just gotten a brand new Scotty Cameron putter which looked exactly like the one he won with at the US Open in Congressional and I said “can I see it?’ I said ‘man, that thing is pretty” and he goes ‘yeah, isn’t it?’ But I can’t be disappointed.
– Sunday, Aug. 28, 2016: The top eight will be finalized at the conclusion of The Barclays, which is scheduled to finish on this date, as opposed to the traditional closing of points at the conclusion of the PGA Championship, which will be played in July instead of August in 2016 due to the Olympics.
The course was so susceptible that Harrington didn’t feel as though he played all that well and still played bogey-free for a 65.
Stenson, Martin Kaymer and Robert Streb finished tied seventh at 272 total. “I think everyone expects if you’re in the lead or if you’re a favourite to win, they expect you to win, and if you don’t, then you’re in a slump”, said Day.
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“Despite that, I thought I was hanging good”.
