Unlikely leader heads the pack at PGA
Jimmy Walker leads a major for the first time in his career
SPRINGFIELD, N.J. — A stale year for Jimmy Walker came to life Thursday in the PGA Championship when he saw putts drop and wound up leading a major for the first time in his career.
A great year might get even better for Henrik Stenson.
Walker took advantage of smoother greens in the morning Thursday at Baltusrol by rolling in six birdies for a 5-under 65, giving him a one-shot lead after the opening round of the final major that delivered its share of surprises.
U.S. Open champion Dustin Johnson, with a chance to go to No.1in 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.
Rory McIlroy took 35 putts and didn’t make a single birdie in his round of 74 that left him so frustrat- ed that he returned to Baltusrol late in the day with his putter.
Stenson had his struggles on the greens, too, but the British Open champion was rolling right along at the end with three birdies over his last seven holes for a 67.
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 the Ryder Cup with qualifying a month away from ending.
Walker wound up with a one-shot lead over two-time major champion Martin Kaymer, Emiliano Grillo and Ross Fisher. Defending champion Jason Day had a 68, and Jordan Spieth shot 70.
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.