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Walker bounces back in Hawaii, repeats at Sony Open

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The deed to Waialae Country Club might be signed over to Jimmy Walker come Monday morning.

The Ryder Cupper annihilated the field with closing rounds of 62-63 to secure a second-consecutive golden trophy. With the nine-shot victory, Walker moved from No. 8 to No. 1 in the early going of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup race and positioned himself for a second international cap, this time on the President’s Cup squad.

No one else had much of a chance against Walker’s 17 weekend birdies. In the race for second place, Scott Piercy edged Harris English, Gary Woodland and Matt Kuchar by one stroke. Piercy closed with a second-consecutive 66, while English earned third place in the event for the second consecutive year. After an opening 70, Woodland played masterfully over the final 54 holes, tallying 65-65-67 to vault past the field.

Kuchar’s Sunday was a disappointment. After entering the final round just two strokes behind Walker, the Georgian was unable to garner a single birdie on the day. Seventeen pars and one bogey add up to very little at Waialae; in Kuchar’s case, he was fortunate to hold onto the tie for third place.

Walker led last week’s Hyundai Tournament of Champions at Kapalua after three rounds last week. He took a commanding lead with five birdies over his first 10 holes on Sunday, but then played the final eight holes 1-over to fall into a playoff that he would lose to Patrick Reed on the first hole.

Walker’s success this week might have come after a rededication to post-round practice.

“Last week was a week where I didn’t do much practicing after the round,” Walker said.

After Saturday’s 62, a 10-birdie, two-bogey rodeo that brought him to 16-under par, Walker was eager to talk about the impact that Butch Harmon has on him as a coach.

“Butch really hammers that home … that it’s about winning,” Walker Said. “We talked Monday evening, and he was cool. He’s like, I know it hurts, and it’s going to hurt, and it should hurt; you should be mad. And it did. He’s been there. He was a player, he knows what you’re going through, he’s seen it as a coach.”

Walker ensured that no scent of a repeat of last week’s closing turmoil would waft in Honolulu, all the way to the final shot on the final green.

“I wanted to finish the day, finish the round,” Walker Said. “I didn’t want to give anything back.  I didn’t want to make a bogey.  Andy [Walker’s caddie] kept telling me, finish it out, let’s make the putt. I chipped it by and he said make it. And I wanted to, and hit a good put and went in the middle.”

The two-week stretch in Hawaii revealed a battery of potential competitors as the PGA Tour returns to the mainland. Russell Henley notched a pair of top-20 finishes and appears ready to return to the winner’s podium. Young threats include Justin Thomas and Max Homa, who tied for sixth at the Sony Open. 

Australian Jason Day earned a tie for third at Kapalua and a top-20 finish at Waialae. His is a story that seems stuck on replay every year: a few top finishes tease the notion that he might become a regular (and major) winner, then something interferes, as injuries did in 2014 after he won the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship. 

A pall was cast over the tournament when real life intruded. Robert Allenby is resting comfortably after he was reportedly kidnapped, beat and robbed this weekend. The Aussie had missed the cut and was in a wine bar with friends on Friday evening when he said he was abducted. 

Ronald Montesano writes for GolfWRX.com from western New York. He dabbles in coaching golf and teaching Spanish, in addition to scribbling columns on all aspects of golf, from apparel to architecture, from equipment to travel. Follow Ronald on Twitter at @buffalogolfer.

2 Comments

2 Comments

  1. Ronald Montesano

    Jan 19, 2015 at 2:55 pm

    farmer,

    Could not agree with you more. He has what it takes to lead Ryder Cup teams in a quiet, efficient way. I should have written about that!!

    Keep reading and commenting.

    RM

  2. farmer

    Jan 19, 2015 at 2:30 pm

    17 birdies in 36 holes! That is some otherworldly golf. Fantastic bounce back as well.

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