Jimmy Walker wins PGA Championship in late match with Day
SPRINGFIELD, N.J. — Jimmy Walker is a major champion.
Walker won the PGA Championship on a marathon Sunday at Baltusrol’s Lower Course, first shooting 2-under 68 in the resumption — or, for him and nine others, the start — of the third round, then shooting a bogey-free, 3-under 67 to win by a shot over Jason Day on 14-under 266.
Day, playing a group ahead of Walker in the penultimate pairing despite the decision not to re-pair after the third round, made things interesting on the par-5 18th, hitting his approach from 254 yards to 10 feet for an eagle that reduced the final margin to two shots. However, as Day was striking his mighty long iron to the delight of the weather-weary New Jersey crowd, Walker slipped in a birdie putt on the right edge at the par-5 17th that cinched the championship.
Walker then teed off with an iron safely into the fairway on the par-5 18th, one of the only two on the course, and found the fairway. With his second shot, however, Walker hit a 3-wood and went well right of the intended target, finding the rough short of the green. Walker, though, was able to finish off the win by chipping onto the green and two-putting for the par.
Daniel Summerhays finished in third place at 10-under 270. Branden Grace, Hideki Matsuyama and Brooks Koepka all finished tied for fourth at 9 under par.
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
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