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The final leaderboard for the 2016 PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey is in. Jimmy Walker was able to fend off runner-up Jason Day, who eagled the final hole, to win his first major by one stroke. Walker’s win marks the fourth straight major of 2016 that has been won by a first-timer. Below is the truncated top-10 leaderboard:
(1) Jimmy Walker (-14)
(2) Jason Day (-13)
(3) Daniel Summerhays (-10)
(T4) Branden Grace (-9)
(T4) Hideki Matsuyama (-9)
(T4) Brooks Koepka (-9)
(T7) Henrik Stenson (-8)
(T7) Martin Kaymer (-8)
(T7) Robert Streb (-8)
(T10) Tyrrell Hatton (-7)
(T10) Paul Casey (-7)
(T10) William McGirt (-7)
What an exciting finish, what with Day nearly forcing a playoff! Here are some statistics on the champion and other notables near the top of the leaderboard:
Winner: Jimmy Walker (-14) – This is Walker’s sixth PGA Tour win and first since the Valero Texas Open in 2015, which he won by four strokes. Prior to this week, his best finish in a major was a T7 in the 2014 PGA Championship; that year he also posted two other top-10 finishes at the Masters and U.S. Open. His previous best finish of the 15-16 season was a T4 at the Farmers Insurance Open in January (two other top 10s at the Chevron World Challenge and WGC-Cadillac). He has missed several cuts this season (including at the U.S. Open and Open Championship) but finished T14 last week at the RBC Canadian Open — evidence his form coming into the week was good. Previous finishes at the PGA Championship for Walker include missed cuts in 2015, 2013 and 2010, a T21 in 2012.
Final round: Three birdies for a bogey-free 3-under 67. It’s pretty clear that Day’s eagle on 18 really put the pressure on him (and he said so himself post-round), but good on him for being able to close it out. A deserving winner in my book. Scores in regulation: 65, 66, 68, 67 (266).
Jason Day (-13) – Had Day won today, he would have joined Tiger Woods as one of the only two to ever win back-to-back PGA Championships (Woods did it twice in 99-00 and 05-06). It also would have marked his eleventh PGA Tour win and fourth win of the 15-16 season. His performance this week comes off the heels of a T14 last week at the Canadian Open, a T8 at the U.S. Open and a T22 at the British Open. Previous finishes at the PGA Championship for Day include a win in 2015 (obviously), T15 in 2014 at Valhalla, T8 in 2013 at Oak Hill and a T10 in 2010 (MCs in 11/12).
Day has been playing very well for quite some time now and it’s no surprise to see him come this close. It will be interesting to see how well he’ll do in the upcoming playoffs.
Final round: 3 birdies 2 bogeys and an eagle for a 3-under 67. He was able to make eagle on the par-5 18th after a solid tee shot and terrific second shot to 14 feet, but it proved to not be enough after Walker made his birdie on the 17th. Scores in regulation: 68, 65, 67, 67 (267).