Going into the final hole on the 18th, there was a bit of a wobble, but, like he did from start to finish at Baltusrol, Jimmy Walker showed the composure of a multiple major winner in lifting his first ever US PGA Championship on a dramatic and long Sunday.
With Jason Day, the defending champion, breathing down his back, the pressure was on Walker to keep his cool on the 18th, and while a fairway wood went deep into the rough to cause a bit of heartache, the American did enough to scramble for par to ensure he would lift his first ever major, with a one-shot victory.
It was due reward for his consistency, with rounds of 65, 66, 68 and 67, for a total of 14-under 266, giving Walker the major win he has been waiting a long time for, hoisting that Wanamaker Trophy high and proud with a big beaming smile on his face.
"Sometimes, things just don't come easy," Walker said. "He really put it on me to make a par. Sometimes pars are hard. But we got it. It was amazing," he said. "It was a battle all day."
Walker had to make a par on the final hole because of Day's brilliance on the 18th, when the Australian made a beautiful eagle to pile the pressure on. "I didn't know he had taken a three-shot advantage," Day, who struck a final round 67 to finish on 13-under, said. "I didn't know if he holed the putt before my shot or after my shot because I didn't hear anything, really.
"All I knew was that I assumed I was only two shots back going into 18.
"I hit a great 2-iron down there, and I just said, 'Let's just try and finish off with a bang, try to give him something to think about, and just keep pushing forward'.
"The 2-iron into the green was probably one of the best 2-irons I've ever hit into a par 5, especially under the circumstances. It was nice to get the eagle, just to try and make Jimmy think about it, but obviously Jimmy just played too good all day. The birdie on 17 was key for him."
Daniel Summerhays finished four shots off the winner in third, while Henrik Stenson, the British Open champion, had to settle for tied-fourth, alongside Branden Grace and Hideki Matsuyama, after only managing a 71 in the fourth round, despite three consecutive 67s putting him in contention.
"It was a long day. I never felt like I brought my A-game," Stenson said. "I think I hit more poor shots in the two rounds today than in the previous six or seven rounds combined."
One of the pre-tournament favourites, Jordan Spieth, finished in six-under par for tied 13th place, while Phil Mickelson, who lost out an unforgettable battle to Stenson at the British Open, shot a final round 68 to finish on three-under.
