Danny Walker’s Emotional Journey to the Players Championship

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Danny Walker, a 29-year-old PGA Tour rookie, experienced a whirlwind of emotions on Thursday morning as he secured a last-minute spot in the prestigious Players Championship, known as golf’s unofficial ‘fifth major.’

After finishing 28th on the Korn Ferry Tour last year, Walker arrived at TPC Sawgrass as the first alternate, waiting for a potential spot in the tournament. The moment came just before 7 a.m. ET when he received a call from the competitions committee informing him that former major champion Jason Day had withdrawn due to illness.

“It meant the world to me,” said Walker. “I wanted to play in this event since I was a little kid, especially living here locally. Watched it a bunch of times the last few years, so yeah, I couldn’t have been more excited.” After shedding a tear in his car, he prepared to take Day’s place in the 8:46 a.m. tee time alongside two major champions, Jordan Spieth and Wyndham Clark.

“I made sure I was prepared to, but I wasn’t really expecting it either,” Walker shared with reporters. “To have to go play with two major champions was like, oh, like we’re here (laughing).” Walker expressed how sitting in his car for a few moments allowed him to reflect on his childhood dreams.

Setting out with optimism, Walker started his round from the back nine and quickly made a birdie on the second hole. However, the challenging course responded with a bogey at 14, a double bogey at 15, and another dropped shot at 18, putting him two-over at the turn. Despite the setbacks, Walker managed a notable birdie on the iconic 17th hole.

“That was really cool. I’ll remember that one for a long time, so I’ll always have good memories on 17, no matter what happens the rest of my career on that hole,” he said. Walkers’ day concluded with a one-over 73, leaving him hovering around the cut line for the tournament.

After struggling to maintain momentum in his previous two tournament appearances, Walker found solace in his performance. Finishing T42nd at the Farmers Insurance Open and T13th at the Mexico Open, he carries renewed confidence into his next rounds. Building on this momentum could be essential for Walker’s season moving forward.

As Walker prepares for his second round with Spieth and Clark, he remains hopeful for a successful outing at TPC Sawgrass, looking to make a name for himself in one of golf’s most revered tournaments.