Walker continues to live off the greatest golf gift imaginable: a surprise major championship. His win at the 2016 PGA will give one final exempt season. He missed 13 cuts in 25 starts but had one good week - a tie for sixth at the Memorial. Until then, he was outside the top 500 in the world rankings. Like most of these guys, Walker had one good week in him all season. Good luck finding that week.
The 41-year-old missed more cuts than he made for the first time in a season since 2010 during his 2019-20 campaign, which included just two top-25s in 16 starts. Walker was especially off his game once the schedule resumed in June following the Tour's three-month hiatus, as he missed the cut in five of six starts from the Charles Schwab Challenge to the PGA Championship and broke 70 in just one of 14 tournament rounds during this span. He somehow ranked top-30 among his peers in SG: Approach, but hit only 62.20 percent of the greens in regulation and finished outside of the top 160 in SG: Tee-to-Green.
Walker is another former major champion, and he's hanging on to his Tour card solely because of his win at the 2016 PGA Championship. This will be the fourth year of his five-year exemption. He finished 158th in the 2018-19 point standings, making only 15 cuts in 22 starts, with just three top-25s and zero top-10s. Walker will still get to play in the PGA, of course, and that's where he got one of this top-25s last season. But now in his 40s, Walker is hardly a fantasy consideration.
After battling Lyme's disease for much of 2017, Walker's salary cap number made him an easy selection last year and for those who chose him, he came in at nearly a 100 percent return. Walker's 2017-2018 season, however, was unlike many of his previous ones though as there were several peaks and valleys and little in the way of consistency. Perhaps being a year removed from his illness will provide more consistency for the this season, but the problem is he earned more than $2 million last season, so to take him in a salary cap league, you'll need about $3 million. Walker turns 40 this season, and while he likely has a few good years left in him, a $3 million season may be too much to ask.
Walker essentially played a full season under the weather as it was revealed that he was dealing with Lyme Disease since November of 2016. When put in that context, it's amazing that Walker played well enough to finish inside the top-125. With that in mind, it's probably best to just throw out all of his results from last season. At this price, the former major champion is a must have as his condition is something that he should be able to manage going forward. Even if he continues to struggle with it, he's still capable of playing well from time to time as proven last season.
With his win at the PGA Championship, Jimmy Walker not only won his first major, but he also destroyed the notion that he only plays well early in the year. Walker surprised everyone at the PGA Championship, but anyone who watched him over those four days in July, knows that his win was no fluke. Walker jumped out to the lead and even with all the pressure in the world, managed to stave-off Jason Day and cruise to victory. It was a great moment for Walker, but one that makes his selection in a salary cap league this year almost impossible. In draft leagues, Walker is likely a 2nd-round pick.
A tale of two seasons for Walker in 2014. Walker dominated the early part of the season, but didn't get a lot accomplished during the heart of the PGA Tour season. Walker doesn't appear to be a fluke, but he's also not a top-5 player in the world, which is what he appeared to be early last season. As such, his price is too high in salary cap leagues. As for draft leagues, he could be a first-rounder, but probably should go early in the second round.
Walker was one of the more consistent players in 2013, but his final number was a little low because he failed to find a victory. That fact however is working in his favor this year as his number is in a relatively reasonable position. Walker should continue to improve in 2014, which makes him a good pick in the 25-35 range. He's also a decent option in salary cap leagues.
Last season was Walker's third on the PGA TOUR, and he's improved each year. He increased his earnings in each of the last three seasons, but the increments have been relatively small. A larger increase in earnings is possible, though, as he showed signs early last season that he might be ready for bigger things. Considering his consistency the last few years, the risk is pretty low, which makes Walker a decent option in salary cap leagues. In draft leagues, Walker should go in the fifth or sixth round.
Walker has been a member of the PGA Tour since 2008 and has steadily improved each of his four seasons. Perhaps steadily isn't the best way to describe his progression. How about slowly? Yes, he's getting better, but at this rate, he'll be eligible for the Champions Tour by the time he hits $2 million. One the bright side, his biggest year-to-year improvement came last season as his earnings jumped from little more than $900K in 2010 to more than $1.3 million in 2011. He also improved his cut percentage as well as his Top-25s and Top-10s.
Walker's performance on the PGA TOUR has improved each of the last three seasons, and there's hope that a significant bump in earnings could be right around the corner. Walker spent time the last couple years recovering from a neck injury, but he's appears past that. He finished 125th after the 2009 season before moving up 23 spots in 2010. Another jump up the rankings is likely ahead for Walker as he's fully healthy entering the 2011 season. Walker has been long off the tee and solid on the greens in his three years on the PGA TOUR.
Nobody could classify Walker's play last year as
Dyno-mite, yet he did enough to grab the final spot in the top-125.
The problem with Walker is where he earned his money. Most of it
came from late-season events with watered-down fields. Walker will
be lucky to grab this spot again next season.
