Weekend Golf Recap -PGA And Women's British Open

Jimmy, not Johnny, Walker won the PGA Championship yesterday at the rainy and soggy Baltusrol Golf Club, shooting a bogey-free 4 under par 67 to beat world #1 Jason Day by a shot. It was a long day for Walker as he had to play 36 holes to complete his victory. Walker led wire to wire and became another first-time major winner, as had been the case in all three prior majors this year. With the soft conditions, the golfers were just pin hunting on every hole but the moist greens somehow did not yield as many birdies as you would expect, given the conditions. Walker holed out a chip shot on the 10th to take a two stroke lead, made birdie at 11 to keep that lead intact, and held what seemed like a comfortable 3 shot lead as he teed off on 18. But Day made a fantastic eagle at the par 5 finishing hole to cut the deficit to just one shot, putting the pressure on Walker to make par, which he did with a nervy 3 footer to seal his first major victory.

On the other side of the pond, Ariya Jutanugarn won the Women’s British Open, becoming the first player from Thailand to win a major. She started the day with a two shot and lead and seemed on her way to an easy victory as she extended that margin to five, but a double-bogey on 13 cut her lead to a single shot. She held her nerve and birdied 17 and cruised home to win by three shots. Asian golf has taken off in an unbelievable way, especially on the women’s side. And a win by a Thai will only give a bigger boost to golf in that are of the world.