Jimmy Walker wins PGA Championship 2016
In the longest final day at the PGA Championship in 64 years, Walker produced three big birdies on the back nine at Baltusrol and held his nerve Sunday against the No. 1 player in the world to the very end. He closed with a 3-under 67 for a one-shot victory over defending champion Jason Day.
Walker provided a little too much drama at the end.
Jimmy Walker is 37 years old and he has been on the PGA Tour 10 years and he played 187 tournaments before he won one and he played in 17 majors before he won this one, the 98th PGA Championship. He won it going 14-under par on rounds of 65, 66, and 68 before adding, on Sunday afternoon at Baltusrol Golf Club, a 67.
Walker built a three-shot lead with an 8-foot birdie putt on the par-5 17th, only to watch Day blasted a 3-wood onto the green at the par-5 18th to 15 feet for an eagle, setting off the loudest cheer of the week and closing the margin to one shot.
Certainly, Day’s performance here -- 68, 65, 67, 67 -- capped by an astounding eagle on the par-5 18th – a 268-yard iron off the tee, a 240-yard iron to the elevated green -- a 15-foot putt downhill . . . wait . . . wait . . . what Day did on the 18th deserves narration by the man himself: “Going down 18, the play, you think, is to hit driver. But I could hit a 2-iron down there, especially with the tee up. I hit a great 2-iron down there and I just said, ‘Let’s just try and finish off with a bang, give him something to think about and just keep pushing forward.'"
Needing only a par to win, Walker went for the green and left it in deep rough to the right and well below the green. He safely pitched to 35 feet, and the putt settled 3 feet beyond the hole. He never felt more nerves or such a short putt, but there was there a doubt. And he succeeded that 67 to beat that other guy, the young Australian, Jason Day, the world’s No. 1 and leader of a couple dozen major-tournament contenders that will shape the game for years.
In the third place is Daniel Summerhays with 10-under par, 270. Branden Grace, Hideki Matsuyama and Brooks Koepka ranks 4th place, 9-under par.
Of world top 5 golfers, besides Jason Day is only Henrik Stenson who is in top 10 of the tournament. He shares 7th place with Martin Kaymer and Robert Streb with 8-under par.
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