Walker earns Masters trip with PGA win

Jimmy Walker has earned a prized maiden trip to the Masters after coming from behind to win his first PGA Tour title in California.

Jimmy Walker hits from the 18th fairway.

Jimmy Walker has come from behind to win his first PGA Tour title in California. (AAP)

FP - On his 188th try, Jimmy Walker came from behind to win his first PGA Tour title on Sunday in the Frys.com Open to earn his first trip to the Masters.

It took some help from Brooks Koepka, who was playing in his first PGA Tour event.

Walker took the lead with a birdie on the 15th hole at CordeValle Golf Club, and three pars for a five-under-par 66 was all it took.

"I think it will sink in after a while," Walker said. "Relief right now - it feels really good. I'm pretty excited."

Koepka had led by four shots on the front nine but collapsed on the last four holes, losing all hope when his tee shot on the par-4 17th came up a metre short into the water.

"Things weren't going my way," Koepka said. "I didn't make the shots I needed to win. Congrats to Jimmy on that. I'll try to learn from the whole experience.

"I can't get too down on this week. I know I'll be criticised. But this year has been amazing. This week I played well. It happens to the best of them."

This is Walker's eighth full season on the PGA Tour. The win means he will crack the top 50 in the world rankings for the first time.

In the end, after Koepka's meltdown, Walker beat Vijay Singh by two strokes as he finished at 17-under 267.

Fiji's Singh posted a three-under 68 for a 15-under total of 269 - best Tour result since being runner-up at the 2011 Northern Trust Open.

Koepka stumbled to a one-over 72, joined in third place at 14-under 270 by Kevin Na (64), Scott Brown (64) and Hideki Matsuyama (66).

George McNeill (71) and Brian Harman (65) shared seventh place at 13-under, while Will MacKenzie (69), Billy Hurley (68) and Max Homa (69) were one shot back on 272.

Australian Robert Allenby finished well back on 283 - 16 shots behind Walker.


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Source: AAP


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