Walker holds nerve to win first major

Jimmy Walker staved off a strong challenge from Jason Day to win his first major title at the PGA Championship on Sunday.
Despite having Day breathing down his neck throughout the 36 holes the leaders played on Sunday, Walker stuck to his guns and showed nerves of steel to triumph in the fading light in New Jersey.
Walker, who finished on 14 under, and defending champion Day, who concluded the tournament on 13 under, were locked in an intense battle at Baltusrol Golf Club that went down to the final hole. When the Australian made a 13-foot eagle putt at the par-five 18th to cut Walker's lead to one, the pressure was suddenly on the American, but he maintained his composure to tap in a three-foot par putt to seal a one-shot win.
Daniel Summerhays moved up five spots on the leaderboard to take third place on 10 under, while Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama had his best showing at the PGA Championship, finishing in a tie for fourth with South Africa’s Branden Grace on nine under.
Meanwhile, reigning Open Championship winner Henrik Stenson ended his campaign six strokes behind Walker in a tie for seventh, while Jordan Spieth finished in a tie for 13th on six under.
Walker, whose previous best finish at a major was eighth place at the 2014 U.S. Open, took the turn in level par, but found his touch at the 10th, where he made a 44-foot hole out from the right front greenside bunker. He followed that up with a 30-foot birdie putt at the 11th and continued to stay on track for victory with an eight-foot birdie putt at the 17th.
The birdie at the penultimate hole was the latest edition of Walker and Day trading punches; moments before Walker sunk his putt a giant roar had erupted from the 18th where Day had put himself in line for an eagle. However, Walker would not be swayed off course and nailed the clutch putt.
With Walker waiting to play his second into the 18th green, Day would make that eagle to reduce the American's lead to just one shot. A par would suffice for Walker, but when he found the rough to the right of the green there were momentary whispers that a collapse could be forthcoming. Such thoughts were quickly silenced with a neat chip and a birdie putt that put Walker within three feet. Needing to hole it to avoid a playoff, Walker made no mistake and wrapped up his first major title.
Day was left to rue an early final-round stumble that saw him register two bogeys on his first three holes. The world number one bounced back and drew level with Walker after making birdies at the fifth and ninth. The pair were not tied for long though as Walker’s consecutive birdies at the 10th and 11th put him back in the outright lead.
The defending champion never gave up, and his eagle at the last nearly proved enough to force a playoff, but despite his valiant effort, Day was unable to stop Walker from taking home the Wanamaker trophy and $1.8 million payday.
Latest
-
PGA Championship
Matt Fitzpatrick: Falling short at US PGA Championship ‘hurts a hell of a lot’
Fitzpatrick carded a closing three-over-par 73 to miss out on the play-off between eventual winner Justin Thomas and Will Zalatoris by two shots.
-
PGA Championship
Justin Thomas pays tribute to caddie Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay after his US PGA victory
Phil Mickelson’s former bagman gave Thomas a crucial pep talk after he shot 74 on Saturday.
-
PGA Championship
Tommy Fleetwood confident he is ‘coming out the other side’ after dip in form
Fleetwood finished in a tie for fifth at the US PGA Championship.
-
PGA Championship
Emotional Justin Thomas credits his experience for US PGA victory
Thomas also won the 2017 US PGA at Quail Hollow.
-
PGA Championship
Justin Thomas eclipses Will Zalatoris in play-off to claim second US PGA title
The former world number one’s victory equalled the biggest comeback in US PGA history.
-
PGA Championship
Rory McIlroy’s Sunday charge at US PGA Championship ends in disappointment
McIlroy’s closing 68 in Tulsa was followed by him declining to speak to waiting reporters.
-
PGA Championship
Paul McGinley says Tiger Woods deserves better than to be a ‘ceremonial golfer’
The 46-year-old withdrew from a major championship for the first time in his professional career at Southern Hills.
-
PGA Championship
Mito Pereira with three-shot lead at US PGA as Tiger Woods withdraws
It is the first time in his career that Woods has withdrawn from a major.
-
PGA Championship
Matt Fitzpatrick relishing chance at securing first major title
A third round of 67 means Fitzpatrick trails leader Mito Pereira by three shots at the US PGA Championship.
-
PGA Championship
Tiger Woods withdraws from US PGA following his worst round at event
The American made the halfway cut with a shot to spare at Southern Hills, but struggled to a nine-over-par 79 in the third round.