Clutch putts propel Walker

Defending champion has two-shot lead in Hawaii’s Sony Open

Associated Press

HONOLULU

Defending champion Jimmy Walker one-putted his last 11 holes Saturday on his way to an 8-under 62, giving him a two-shot lead in the Sony Open and a chance to become the first back-to-back winner since 2004.

On a day in which six players had at least a share of the lead at some point, Walker began his surge with a wedge to 5 feet on the eighth hole. He twice saved par, escaped with a bogey after two shots from a plugged lie in a bunker on the 17th and made birdie everywhere else.

It was reminiscent of his final round at Waialae a year ago when he raced past a crowded field with key putts. That gave him a victory. This only gave him a chance to become the first repeat winner of the Sony Open since Ernie Els.

Matt Kuchar, one of three players tied for the lead at the start of Saturday, birdied two of his last three holes for a 68 and was two shots behind.

Walker was at 16-under 194, and he knows as well as anyone that this tournament is just getting started.

“Somebody is shooting a low round every day, and you never know where it’s going to come from,” Walker said. “So you’ve got to go out with the expectation you’ve got to shoot a good score tomorrow.”

Warren JFK graduate Jason Kokrak shot a six-under 64 to climb into eighth place.

Without the strong wind typical of this tournament, there has been a score of at least 62 every round. That led Kuchar to say that anyone within six shots of the lead is still a threat.

If that’s the case, this could very much be up for grabs.

Brian Harman (64) and Troy Merritt (67) were three shots behind, while Tim Clark (68) and Justin Thomas (70) were another shot behind.

The 21-year-old Thomas, playing in the final group on the weekend for the first time, twice made key putts to turn double bogeys into only bogeys. He was tied for the lead through 12 holes until going well long on the 13th and scratching out a bogey, then dropping another shot on the 16th before closing with a birdie.

Max Homa, a former NCAA champion from Cal, had a 63 and was five shots behind.

Walker, however, has been steady and good during his two-week stay in paradise. This was his 13th consecutive round in the 60s in the Aloha State, and he was tied for the 54-hole lead last week at Kapalua in the Tournament of Champions before losing to Patrick Reed in a playoff.

Walker said the loss stung, though he was helped by the short turnaround. And playing good golf puts last week even further in the past.

Even so, he thought he was losing ground when he was only 1-under par for the day going to the eighth hole. He made his birdie at No. 8 and turned to caddie Andy Sanders and said, “Let’s get going.” And they did.