Walker sets pace at Kapalua
PGA champion uses sharp wedge game to open with 65.
KAPALUA, HAWAII — With a chance to take the lead at Kapalua, Jimmy Walker missed in the one spot he was trying to avoid.
The way he was hitting his wedges Thursday, it really didn’t matter.
Walker hit a tough pitch to a tight pin on the elevated green to 3 feet for birdie on the par-5 15th, and he nearly holed a lob wedge from 78 yards on the final hole for an 8-under 65 that gave him a two-shot lead in the SBS Tournament of Champions.
He’s still three days away from atoning for a playoff loss to Patrick Reed two years ago at Kapalua, though it was an ideal start for the PGA champion in ideal conditions on the west end of Maui, except for a short burst of pineapple showers.
Jim Herman got in one last round with his former employer — President-elect Donald Trump — a few days before Christmas, then came out to the Plantation course where he once got in a round of golf in tennis shoes and rental clubs while on his honeymoon.
Herman, a former assistant at Trump National, was 6 under through 13 holes when his round stalled. Even with four wedges in hand over the final five holes, he had to settle for pars and a 67.
Justin Thomas and Ryan Moore also were at 67.
In his first competition in three months, Jason Day had a pair of three-putts but still managed a 70. Defending champion Jordan Spieth wasn’t so fortunate. He never got his putter going, turned a birdie into bogey on the 15th and had to birdie the final hole for a 72.
Walker had the Tournament of Champions in hand t wo years ago until Reed holed out from a fairway to start an unlikely rally and won in a playoff. Walker won the following week on Oahu at the Sony Open for the second straight time.
“I love the scenery. I’m a very visual person, so I enjoy looking out and watching the whales when I’m walking around. Just a pretty place,” Walker said. “Everybody’s in a good mood. I love stepping off the plane and the air is just awesome. Something does it for me here.”
Daniel Berger made bogey on the par-5 18th and was at 68, along with Jason Dufner. The group at 69 included Dustin Johnson and Hideki Matsuyama, who is going after his fourth consecutive victory worldwide.
Tiger fills early schedule: After one tournament in 15 months, Tiger Woods feels good enough to schedule four events in five weeks that cover opposite sides of the country and the world.
Woods filled out the rest of his early schedule Thursday by saying he would return to the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.
Woods will make his 2017 debut at Torrey Pines on Jan. 26-29, then cross 12 time zones to play in Dubai. After a week off, he will return to California for the Genesis Open at Riviera, then head to Florida for the Honda Classic at PGA National.