SPRINGFIELD, NJ—Jimmy Walker is quite familiar with contending and winning regular PGA Tour events. He’s done it 5 times. However, when it comes to the major championships in golf, the 37-year-old native of Oklahoma City has been in need of Mapquest for specific directions at the sport’s grandest events. For at least one round Walker showed he understood exactly where he needed to go during Thursday’s first round of the 98th PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club.
Playing in the morning wave Walker got off to a fast start birdieing the 10th hole—his first of the day—and playing his first nine in four-under-par 32. Walker’s only blemish on the card was a bogey on the long par-4 6th but he bounced back immediately with a birdie at the demanding par-4 7th. His five-under-par 65 gives a him a one stroke lead over three players: among them includes two-time major champion German Martin Kaymer at 66. Walker’s 65 ties matches his low best 18-hole score in 15 total rounds in the PGA Championship, doing similarly in the final round of the ‘14 event.
Walker has not had a good 2016 by his standards. Prior to this week’s PGA—he’s had 19 starts on Tour this year with only 3 top ten finishes—the most recent coming at the WGC Cadillac at Doral back in March with a 6th place finish.
