Jimmy Walker and Brendon de Jonge are two veterans of the PGA Tour coming to the 2012 Greenbrier Classic with a common goal, to claim their first career Tour victory. While the field includes some of golf's all-time greats, players such as Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and even Tom Watson, Walker and de Jonge have reason to believe they may be hoisting the winner's trophy on Sunday, July 8th, at The Old White TPC.
Jimmy Walker: A 33-year-old native of Oklahoma City, Walker has been a professional golfer since 2001. He has earned more than $4 Million playing on the PGA Tour, with a best result being a tie for third at the 2010 Valero Texas Open. He has played very well in the two previous Greenbrier Classic events played at The Old White TPC, finishing tied for fourth both years.
In the second round of the 2010 Greenbrier, Walker shot a 6-under par 64, sandwiched between three 67s in the 1st, 3rd, and 4th rounds, to finish 15-under par for 72 holes. In 2011 he went even lower in round three, posting an 8-under par 62, and missed a playoff by only one shot. If not for a 72 in round two, his only over par round in two years at the Greenbrier, the 2011 championship may have been his.
Brendon de Jonge: A professional since 2003, de Jonge is a 31-year-old native of Harare, Zimbabwe. Brendon has earned more than $5 Million, with 16 top 10 finishes on the Tour. He has finished in third place three times, including at the 2010 Greenbrier Classic. Brendon de Jonge has also played very well at the Greenbrier, finishing third in 2010 and tied for fourth in 2011.
In the 2010 Greenbrier, de Jonge posted 5-under par 65's on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, to finish 17-under par for 72 holes. A 68 on Friday kept him from victory. In 2011, like Jimmy Walker, Brendon de Jonge had one round that was over par, a 72 on Saturday. He finished in a tie for fourth with Walker, missing a playoff by a single shot.
2012 AT&T National: One week prior to the Greenbrier, playing at Congressional Country Club, Jimmy Walker and Brendon de Jonge each posted scores of 68 on Thursday and 69 on Friday, in the first two rounds of the AT&T National, and were within two shots of the leader (Hunter Mahan) after 36 holes. This was before the devastating storm hit on Friday night.
Brendon de Jonge was able to post another 69 after the storm on Saturday, before fading to a 77 on Sunday to finish tied for 11th. Playing the final round with the eventual winner, Tiger Woods, he may have learned what it takes to win on the PGA Tour.
Harold Andrews has played golf (competitively and recreationally) for nearly 50 years. He considers Jack Nicklaus the greatest golfer of all time.
source:
pgatour.com
