Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Walker’s lost year perks up with putts

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SPRINGFIEL­D, N. J. — A drab year for Jimmy Walker took a turn for the worse two weeks ago at the British Open, when he stayed in what was dubbed the “frat house” at Royal Troon with Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, Justin Thomas, Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson.

Walker was the only one to miss the cut.

He still stayed the weekend. He just stayed away from the golf course, and his clubs. How does one kill time in such a small Scottish town?

“When the first guy comes back and he’s ready for a cocktail, you have one,” Walker said.

Thursday in the PGA Championsh­ip, the drinks were on Walker.

In the final major of the

year, Walker finally saw enough putts fall at Baltusrol that he matched his low score in a major with a 5- under 65 and wound up leading a major for the first time in his career.

Just like that, a stale year came to life.

Walker had a one- shot lead over two- time major champion Martin Kaymer, Emiliano Grillo and Ross Fisher.

And for Henrik Stenson, a great year might get even better. Coming off his record performanc­e at the British Open, the Swede had three birdies on the back nine as the sweltering heat gave way to dark clouds and 20 mph gusts. That gave him a 67, leaving him two shots behind. Stenson is trying to join Ben Hogan in 1953 as the only players to win back- to- back majors at age 40.

“It’s going to be a great season for me,” Stenson said. “But at the same time, I want to give myself a chance to try to make it the best season.”

It wasn’t the best of times for Dustin Johnson or Rory McIlroy.

Johnson, the U. S. Open champion with a chance to go to No. 1 in the world, was in the trees, in the water and couldn’t get out of a bunker. He managed only one birdie

in a round of 77 that wasn’t enough to beat 15 of the club pros at Baltusrol.

He wasn’t alone in his misery. McIlroy took 35 putts and didn’t make a single birdie in his round of 74, which left him so frustrated that he returned to Baltusrol later in the day with only his putter.

Walker’s year has been so mediocre that he has finished within five shots of the winner only once this year, at Torrey Pines. He is on the verge of falling out of the top 50 in the world ranking and hasn’t given as much thought to Ryder Cup with qualifying a month away from ending.

“I feel like all year it’s just been real stale and stagnant,” Walker said. “It’s just ebbs and flows of golf. Just haven’t been scoring. … It’s frustratin­g. I would have loved to have had a better year than I’ve had so far to this point, but I know there’s always time to play well at the end of the year.”

Kaymer had the best score in the afternoon, when the blend of poa annua and bent grass on the Baltusrol greens became a little more difficult to navigate.

David Lingmerth ( Razorbacks) was at 2- under 68 and tied for ninth. John Daly ( Dardanelle, Arkansas Razorbacks) and Bryce Molder ( Conway) each shot a 4- over 74.

Baltusrol still allowed for good scoring. Twenty players were at 68 or better, a list that included defending champion Jason Day.

Day played in the morning group with McIlroy and Phil Mickelson, and he was the only player without much stress. Mickelson, just 11 days after that magnificen­t duel with Stenson at Royal Troon, was 4 over through 11 holes when he rallied with a trio of birdies late in his round to salvage a 71.

“It’s not the start I wanted. It’s not indicative of how I’m playing,” he said. “But I’m back to where tomorrow, if I play the way I’ve been playing, I should be OK.”

Jordan Spieth only regretted one hole, the par- 4 seventh, when he lost his ball so far to the right he had to chip back into thick rough and wound up three- putting for a double bogey. That was his lone mistake. He rolled in big putts on the 15th for par, 16th for birdie and closed with a two- putt birdie to get back to even- par 70.

“I’m a good putter,” Walker said. “Like good shooters, just keep shooting. I’m just going to keep putting, and they’re going to start going in.”

LPGA Lee matches record WOBURN, England — Mirim Lee shot a 10- under 62 to match the Women’s British Open record and open a threestrok­e lead in the major championsh­ip at tree- lined Woburn Golf Club.

Three weeks after shooting a 64 in the first round of the U. S. Women’s Open, the 25- year- old South Korean player made the last of her 10 birdies on the par- 3 17th and closed with a par.

Lee birdied the first two holes, added another on the fourth and made five consecutiv­e on Nos. 7- 11 to reach 8 under. She also birdied the par- 3 13th on the Marquess Course, the forest layout that is a big change from the seaside links that dominate the tournament rotation.

Ariya Jutanugarn was second after a bogey- free 65. China’s Shanshan Feng had a 66, and American Stacy Lewis ( Arkansas Razorbacks) and South Korea’s Mi Hyang Lee shot 67.

England’s Charley Hull opened with a 69 in her home course. Gaby Lopez ( Razorbacks) shot an even- par 72. Top- ranked Lydia Ko was tied for 89th after a 74. She bogeyed her final two holes.

WEB. COM Jaeger matches record

HAYWARD, Calif. — Stephan Jaeger shot a 12- under 58 on Thursday in the Web. com Tour’s Ellie Mae Classic to match the lowest score in major tour play.

The 27- year- old German player finished the round with a birdie on the par- 5 18th at TPC Stonebrae.

Jaeger played both nines in 6- under 29. He birdied Nos. 11, 13- 17 on his opening nine, and Nos. 1- 2, 4- 6 and 9 on his second nine.

Jaeger broke the Web. com Tour record of 59 held by Notah Begay III, Doug Dunakey, Jason Gore, Will Wilcox and Russell Knox. Six players have shot 59 in official PGA Tour events.

 ?? AP/ TONY GUTIERREZ ?? Jimmy Walker weathered high temperatur­es at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfi eld, N. J., on Thursday to shoot an opening- round 5- under 65 and grab a one- stroke lead over three players at the PGA Championsh­ip. Defending champion Jason Day was three...
AP/ TONY GUTIERREZ Jimmy Walker weathered high temperatur­es at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfi eld, N. J., on Thursday to shoot an opening- round 5- under 65 and grab a one- stroke lead over three players at the PGA Championsh­ip. Defending champion Jason Day was three...
 ?? AP/ TONY GUTIERREZ ?? Germany’s Martin Kaymer tees off on No. 3 Thursday during the fi rst round of the PGA Championsh­ip. Kaymer fi nished with a 4- under 66 that left him in a three- way tie for second heading into today’s second round.
AP/ TONY GUTIERREZ Germany’s Martin Kaymer tees off on No. 3 Thursday during the fi rst round of the PGA Championsh­ip. Kaymer fi nished with a 4- under 66 that left him in a three- way tie for second heading into today’s second round.

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