JIMMY WALKER’S USPGA win could drive a wedge through the US Ryder Cup team because of his feud with Dustin Johnson.
America’s two Major winners in 2016 cannot stand the sight of each other.
And they had a heated bust-up on the driving range in Austin, Texas, in March.
US Open champ Johnson tops the US Ryder Cup qualifying list despite missing the cut at Baltusrol.
Walker, 37, won his first Major with a nerve-shredding par at the 72nd hole, after world No 1 Jason Day closed to within a stroke thanks to an eagle at the last.
That hoisted Walker to fourth on the points list from a lowly 29th — and he is looking forward to a Ryder Cup return after impressing in defeat at Gleneagles in 2014.
Walker said: “Even though we lost I think being part of the last Ryder Cup helped me improve my game.
I felt I learned a lot two years ago. I learned I’m not into every shot I hit week-in and week-out on Tour.
“And that week, every shot I hit, I was 100 per cent committed.
“I played great, I really did. I know we didn’t win and it’s not fun not winning.
“But after that I told myself I never want to miss one and I was thinking about that when I was so far down our list.
“The emotions you run through at these team events are huge.
“It was crazy stuff and I look forward to hopefully having a chance to do it here on our home turf later this year.”
Walker has struggled since he claimed his fifth US Tour victory in March last year.
And the keen astronomer, who owns a giant telescope, admitted there was no glimmer of his all-the-way USPGA win in the stars.
Related stories
But after a first round 65, Walker shot a closing 67 to seal a one-shot triumph from defending champion Day, on 14 under. He added: “I honestly couldn’t see this kind of thing happening a few weeks ago.
“I haven’t been playing great for a long time but I felt I was close and it would come right soon.
“Then something kind of clicked and I played solid all week. I had to dig deep at the end because Jason showed why he is world No 1 with that eagle, forcing me to make a tough par.
“I’m proud that I was able to come through that.”
Walker was thrilled to pip his ‘bus buddy’ — he and Day travel in camper vans.
Walker revealed: “It was great to have Jason come up to the side of the 18th green and congratulate me.
“We hang out a lot because we bus it together. It’s been great to see what he’s done with golf and his game.
“To hold him off at the end, for me, that’s great.”
Leave a comment