Jimmy Walker

Last Sunday, the American Jimmy Walker won the season-opening Frys.com Open, marking his first victory on the PGA Tour. This week's player profile takes a look at Walker's recent career as he joins the Tour's winners circle this season.

34-year-old Walker was born and raised in Oklahoma City, and discovered his love for golf early in life. Following his graduation from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, Walker turned professional in 2001 at the age of twenty-two.

Walker began his professional golf career on the second-tier Nationwide Tour, where he won three events before moving on to the PGA Tour. The young player weathered several challenges during his first few seasons on the Nationwide Tour, winning the Panama Championship and Louisiana during the 2004 season. In 2007, he was victorious again at the Pete Dye Classic.

Since 2005, Walker has played regularly on the US PGA Tour. His debut season was cut short due to an injury, and he spent the 2008 season back on the Nationwide Tour, but the past few seasons have seen a new consistency emerge in the American's game.

In 2010, Walker came to the attention of golf fans when he finished third at the Texas Open. After narrowly missing the top 100 on the Tour's money list, he returned in 2011 and was ranked 50th on the US PGA Tour after carding four top-10 finishes during that season. In 2012 his form continued to improve, and he increased his number of top-10 finishes from four to six.

Sunday's victory at the Frys.com Open marks Walker's first victory off 188 starts on the PGA Tour. As the easy-going long hitter from Oklahoma claims his place in the Tour's winners' circle, golf fans may want to keep an eye on this talented and tenacious golfer as he continues his rise in North American golf.

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