June 24, 2009

By Art Stricklin
Special Contributor, Baylor Bear Insider

Jimmy Walker's PGA Tour career has already had enough ups and downs to resemble one of the roller-coaster rides near his home at Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio.

But with the former Baylor All-American finally healthy from a neck muscle injury that plagued him for nearly three years, and buoyed by a strong showing in the recent Texas PGA Tour swing, Walker feels his career is pointed in the right direction --again.

"I haven't really played well in 3-4 years," he said as he prepares to head into the second half of the 2009 season. "I lost a lot of confidence with my neck, but I feel like I'm close to playing really well. It's right there. I just need to let it happen."

In the first six months of the 2009 season, he has already collected nearly as much prize money ($189,229) as he did in all of 2006 and 2007 and is nearly two-thirds of the way to what he made last year ($282,249).

After a tie for 11th in last year's Tour qualifying school, Walker is considered an exempt player, which means he is eligible to play in almost all of the Tour events this season.

The renewed confidence for Walker, who turned pro in 2001 and was the 2004 Nationwide Tour Player of the Year, stems from back-to-back top 25 finishes in his home state PGA Tour events in May - the Texas Open in San Antonio and the Byron Nelson Championship in Dallas.

He set a tournament course record with a 29 on the back side of the TPC Las Colinas course in Irving during the third round of the Byron Nelson.

"That was probably the best driving round I've had this year at the Byron Nelson, and that's what has held me back with my neck was driving the ball straight," Walker said. "I know I'm a pretty good putter, but you have to drive the ball in play to be successful out here."

Walker also gained renewed confidence from some lessons he took with his longtime Texas instructor Brian Gathright at Oak Hill Country Club in San Antonio, near his home.

"I'm still working with Todd (Anderson) on the road, but it was good to stay at home and work with Brian. He has known me for a long time," Walker said.

Even his most recent PGA Tour event in Memphis, which mirrored his up-and-down professional career, has given him renewed hope.

He opened the first round at the TPC-Southwind course outside of Memphis with a stellar 65, one shot out of the lead. But he blew up to an 82 on Saturday before coming back with a 68 in Sunday's final round.

"I just got a little ahead of myself, thinking about getting in other tournaments," he said. "I just need to keep playing and concentrate on the rounds in front of me, not think about the future."

While he failed to qualify for both the U.S. and British Open Championships this summer, Walker said he plans to play in as many tournaments as possible, while continuing to work on his game and confidence.

"I know I can play well. I've done it before, and I just need to hang in there and get my piece of the pie," Walker said.

Particularly gratifying was that he was able to perform well in front on his family at home in San Antonio and many of his college and high school friends who have moved to Dallas and came out to watch him at the Byron Nelson.

"I've got a pretty common name people can remember and, of course, I still get that Jimmy Walker, Dynamite! thing a lot," he said.

With a hectic golf travel schedule that keeps him on the move to a different city every week, Walker doesn't get a chance to return to Baylor very often. But he did have a chance to watch almost all of the men's basketball team's improbable run to the NIT championship game.

"It's great to see them doing so well in the sports they struggled with when I was in school," he said. "As athletes, we tried to support every sport when I was in school, but it was difficult with them not winning in the major revenue sports.

"Now, they have it going in basketball and I think football. They have a great new golf center they didn't have when I was there, and I told (Baylor golf coach Greg Priest) that whatever he needs from me I will try to help him out in any way possible."

The biggest thing for Walker personally, and maybe the golf program as well, would be his first PGA Tour win. Something that no Baylor golfer has done in the last 40 years.

"It's getting close," Walker said. "I just want to be ready for it."

Hopefully the next roller-coaster ride that Walker takes on the PGA Tour is straight to the top.