Danny Walker was not even meant to be concerned at The Gamers, however the American is fulfilling a childhood dream by charging into rivalry on the PGA Tour’s flagship occasion.
The PGA Tour rookie was not a part of the unique area for this week’s occasion at TPC Sawgrass, just for the world No 284 to earn a last-minute call-up on Thursday morning when Jason Day withdrew because of sickness.
Walker came upon about his late entry through a cellphone name – whereas within the locker-room rest room – lower than two hours earlier than his tee time, with the Korn Ferry Tour graduate given his place within the highlight alongside main champions Jordan Spieth and Wyndham Clark.
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Walker carded rounds of 73, 70 and 66 over the primary two days
“It meant the world to me,” Walker stated. “Wanted to play in this event since I was a little kid, especially living here locally. Watched it a bunch of times the last few years, so I couldn’t have been more excited.
“I went and sat in my automotive for a couple of minutes afterwards and simply sort of let it hit me a bit of bit, possibly let a tear out. It was all nice. I used to be simply excited. It was just a bit little bit of shock, as a result of I wasn’t actually anticipating to get in.”
Walker battled via to the weekend on the cut-mark after rounds of 73 and 70, handing him a tee time on Saturday morning alongside main winner Shane Lowry, the place he took benefit of the very best of the circumstances to submit a third-round 66.
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Walker might safe his PGA Tour card for subsequent season with a robust end to his week at TPC Sawgrass
“Once you make the weekend it’s easy to free it up because you don’t have anything to lose,” Walker stated. “I can’t go backwards, you can only move forwards at that point. I was able to just keep that ball-striking momentum going.”
Walker has solely completed inside the highest 40 as soon as in his 5 begins on the PGA Tour this season, having earned his promotion by his top-30 end on the Korn Ferry Tour factors checklist final 12 months, with the 29-year-old not even having his personal Wikipedia web page – forward of his third spherical – because of his restricted profile.
“This is where I wanted to be, playing in these events,” Walker informed Sky Sports activities. “It is arduous to place it into perspective, it is a very long time of arduous work and getting my recreation the place I need it to be to be at this degree.
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“Any opportunities we can get early in the year to play in the bigger events can really set up your whole season. On top of that, the experience of playing with major champions is invaluable.”
Walker has lived within the Jacksonville space since 2019 and has performed TPC Sawgrass ‘near 100 instances’, making The Gamers really feel ‘like a hometown occasion’ at a venue he has tackled in all potential parts via the years.
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His solely earlier wins as an expert have come through the PGA Tour Canada, along with his final again in 2022. Simply staying inside the highest 10 this week would double his $684,667 profession earnings, with the potential of a debut victory nonetheless not out of the query.
Walker informed Sky Sports activities that his 10-year-old self can be “jumping up and down” on the prospect of contending at The Gamers. These childhood goals at the moment are changing into a actuality.
Who will win The Gamers? Watch the ultimate spherical stay on Sunday from 1pm on Sky Sports activities Golf, with 10 further feeds – together with Featured Holes, Featured Teams and bonus protection – on Sky Sports activities+. Get Sky Sports activities or stream with no contract on NOW.
