Tour pro says Jimmy Walker was "extraordinarily miserable" in 2019
Tour pro Eddie Pepperell said RBC Heritages' 36-hole leader Jimmy Walker was "extraordinarily miserable" when they played together.
Tour pro Eddie Pepperell shared his experience playing with PGA Tour player Jimmy Walker, who's in the mix this week at the RBC Heritage, saying the American was "extraordinarily miserable" back in 2019.
Walker held the 36-hole lead and was three strokes clear of Scottie Scheffler, Justin Rose, and Xander Schauffele after Friday's round in Hilton Head, South Carolina.
He shot a 1-over par 72 during Saturday's third round, and fell back into a tie for fourth, three strokes back of new leader, Matt Fitzpatrick.
Walker, 44, has six career wins on the PGA Tour, but only has notched one top-10 in his past 98 starts. His last win was nearly seven years ago at the PGA Championship in 2016. Just under a year later, he was diagnosed with Lyme disease, in April 2017.
“I really want it, and I want it bad.”
Since being diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2017 and nearly walking away from golf last year, the journey back hasn’t been easy.
But Jimmy Walker remains hungry as ever, and owns the 36-hole lead @RBC_Heritage. pic.twitter.com/VOYMMQ70lv— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 15, 2023
Pepperell, who played with Walker back in 2019, went on Twitter Saturday to share his experience playing with Walker.
He wrote:
Easy to forget how good Jimmy Walker was a few years ago. Good to see him playing so well again.
I did play with him in 2019 and he was extraordinarily miserable. Like, worryingly miserable. Anyway, I hope he’s feeling happier now.— Eddie Pepperell (@PepperellEddie) April 15, 2023
Walker is playing on the PGA Tour this year after breaking into the top 50 on the PGA Tour's career money list, earning him exemption through it. He moved up crucial spots on the list following the departure of some players to LIV Golf.
He's currently ranked 143rd on the PGA Tour and 406th on the Official World Golf Rankings. This week's tournament in South Carolina is his 13th event of the 2022-23 PGA Tour season. In his previous 12, he's made just four cuts.
Last season, Walker struggled to find momentum, missing eight cuts in 14 events. He narrowly notched just one top-25 finish with a tie for 24th at the Shriners Children's Open back in October of 2021.
He'll tee off in the third-to-last group for Sunday's final round of the RBC Heritage alongside Scheffler and Chez Reavie.
