Jimmy Walker leads Texas Open

Edited by Anand Datla

March 28, 2015: Jimmy Walker felt right at home at TPC San Antonio during the second round. With friends and family in the crowd, the FedExCup points leader and local resident put on a show with three straight birdies in a four hole stretch to take the clubhouse lead at the halfway point of the Valero Texas Open.

Walker opened the morning with two birdies in his first five holes before recording his only bogey of the round on the par-4 17th hole when his 7-foot par putt slid by the cup. His lone blemish on the card ended up being the turning point in the round, as Walker closed his first nine with a birdie before making three more over the next nine holes, including a 19-footer on the par-3 7th hole, to shoot 5-under 67.

“I was just kind of around the hole, didn’t make anything, and then finally got one to go on six,” Walker said. “I hit a good iron shot, just got it on top of the ridge there on 7 and made that putt. And that 12-footer I made for birdie on the par-5 [8th hole], that was a nice little finish.”

Through two rounds, the putter has been the most important club in Walker’s bag and has him not only leading the field in strokes gained-putting (plus-6.536), but the tournament as well.

Earlier this season, Walker returned to the 11-year-old Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS putter he won twice with and topped the money list on the 2004 Web.com Tour. The putter played an intergral role in Walker’s victory at the 2015 Sony Open, as he recorded 11 consecutive one-putts during the third round to distance himself from the field.

Walker had the putter restored to its original condition and 10-gram tungsten weights added to the sole, to provide him with the weight he prefers.

“I’ve been rolling it pretty good,” Walker said. “I’ve been working hard on my putting at home and it was ready to go this week. It feels like the hard work is paying off.”

The putter has Walker two rounds away from winning his hometown tournament. The four-time PGA TOUR winner has had a couple close calls in recent years, including a T-3 in 2010. With a win already under his belt this season, Walker has his sights set on getting another with his friends and family in the stands — something he said would the victory extra special.

“A win anywhere means a lot,” Walker said. “But being at home, you get to have parents, in-laws, friends, best friends, distant family. It would be cool. It doesn’t put anymore pressure on you, I think. If anything you’ve got a nice support crew out there and you’ve got good vibes and good mojo — and I believe in all that stuff. So I think positive energy is good. I think we’ll have a lot of that.”

Republished: Jonathan Wall – PGA Tour