But once in the winner’s enclosure, at the 2013 Frys.com Open, the Texan found he quite liked the place; three wins in 2014, his breakthrough year, six to date and he is delighted to be defending champions at Quail Hollow this month.
“Winning a ‘Major’ gives you more stature in the world of golf,” Walker said, adding, “Being able to play all the ‘Majors’ for five years is a nice perk for sure.
“But,” Walker revealed, “My cool moment was receiving a hand-written note from Jack Nicklaus, very cool when one of the greatest players of all time takes the time to hand-write you a note and talk about your win - and he can relate having won two ‘Majors’ there - is very cool.
“He didn’t have to do that, but he did. I wrote him back, and he was greatly appreciative of that, and we’ve been able to chat a few times since. I had dinner with him and Barbara about a month ago. They’re super people.”
The other added bonus that came with winning the 2016 PGA Championship was that it secured Walker’s spot on his second consecutive Ryder Cup USA Team last September at Hazeltine. The Texan took full advantage by helping the USA to a memorable and comprehensive 17-11 victory over Europe, calling a much-needed halt to a three-in-a-row streak from the Europeans.
Walker had been one of three stand-out performers in the USA’s heavy defeat at Gleneagles two-years-earlier, contribution 2.5 points along with fellow-debutant Jordan Spieth to Patrick Reed’s 3.5 as the more celebrated members of the team, Mickelson, Bubba Watson, Matt Kuchar, Rickie Fowler et al, tanked in the Scots mist.
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