Class of 2019

Jimmy Walker

Professional Player

Biography

Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on January 16, 1979 Jimmy Walker has spent much of his life in the Texas Hill Country, graduating from Canyon High School in New Braunfels in 1997. He played college golf at Baylor University in Waco, Texas and turned professional at age 22 in 2001.

After playing in 187 events without a win on the PGA Tour, Walker won three times in the first eight events of the 2014 season. He is a six-time winner on the PGA Tour and in 2016 won his first major title at the PGA Championship.

The 2014 season was the first to begin with six events in the fall of 2013. In the first of these, Walker won his first PGA Tour event at the 2013 Frys.com Open, after nine years and 188 PGA Tour starts. He won by two strokes over Vijay Singh after shooting 62–66 over the weekend. The win gave him an exemption into the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, and earned him his first trip to the Masters Tournament and a PGA Tour card until the end of 2016. Walker also entered the world's top 50 for the first time.

Walker opened up 2014 finishing T21 at his first visit to the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. The following week, he earned his second PGA Tour win at the Sony Open in Hawaii. He birdied four of the final six holes and shot a final round 63 to win by one stroke over Chris Kirk.

Five weeks later, in early February 2014, Walker won the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am by one stroke over Dustin Johnson and Jim Renner. He had a six-stroke advantage going into the final round, but shot a two-over-par 74 on Sunday and needed to hole a five-foot par putt on the 18th for the victory. This was his third victory of the 2014 season in just eight starts, after previously going 187 events without a victory.

In August of 2016 at Baltusrol Golf Club, Walker held at least a share of the lead after every round, his first leads at a major. A nerve par at the 72nd hole gave him a one shot win over Jason Day and put his name on the Wanamaker Trophy.

An avid astrophotographer; his photos have been featured on Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD).

Induction Video

Career Highlights

Six-time PGA Tour Winner
2016 PGA Champion
2015 Valero Texas Open Winner
2014 and 2016 Ryder Cup Team Member
2015 Presidents Cup Team Member

A Major Champion

At the 2016 PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club, Walker shot a 65 in the first round to hold the lead by one stroke. This represented the first time that he had ever led a major in his career. He followed with a 66 in the second round for a 9-under total and share of the halfway lead with Robert Streb. After a washout on Saturday, Walker shot a third round 68 on Sunday morning, finishing with a birdie on the 18th hole to take the 54-hole lead by one stroke. Sunday evening saw Walker shoot a bogey-free round of 67 to capture his first major championship, winning by one stroke over Jason Day, who after eagleing the 18th hole forced Walker to make par for the championship. Walker, on his third shot, played a safe approach from the rough to the green, taking two putts to make par and maintain his 1-shot lead for his first major title.