6 Jan 2017

Walker leads Tournament of Champions first round

7:00 pm on 6 January 2017

American golfer Jimmy Walker, who notched his second career PGA Tour win in Hawaii, could be on track for another success in the island state after taking a two-shot, first-round lead at the Tournament of Champions.

30 JUL 2016: Jimmy Walker tees off at the 1st hole of the final round of the 98th PGA Championship played at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield,NJ.

Golfer Jimmy Walker. Photo: Photosport

The reigning PGA Championship titleholder plundered an eagle and six birdies in benign conditions for an eight-under-par 65 on the Kapalua Plantation course on the island of Maui.

Fellow Americans Ryan Moore, Justin Thomas and Jim Herman carded 67, with world number one Jason Day equal 12th on 70.

Defending champion Jordan Spieth struggled at times en route to a 72 that left him joint 22nd in the elite 32-man, winners-only field.

- Reuters