Thursday 15 March 2018 22:23, UK
Jimmy Walker made a welcome return to the top of the leaderboard as he holed out from the fairway to snatch the early clubhouse lead at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Walker has struggled with ill health over the last year after being diagnosed with Lyme disease, and the 2016 PGA champion posted only one top-10 finish last year.
But he showed signs of a return to form at Pebble Beach last month as he finished tied for eighth, and he snatched the clubhouse lead away from Tiger Woods and Patrick Reed at Bay Hill with a spectacular eagle at the last.
Walker's perfect wedge from 132-yards pitched softly and spun into the cup for a superb two which capped a five-under 67, although he would end the day three shots behind an inspired Henrik Stenson.
"I hit a great drive, right down the middle, a little low hard fade and it kind of got a little boost off that downhill and had a wedge in from 132 and it was just a nice perfect number," he said. "We weren't sure we were going to get it quite all the way there. It's a tight little shot in there, especially with the wind off the left but it worked out nice."
Walker also revealed he was feeling healthier than he had done for some time, although he still has to endure the odd "bad day" as he deals with a dramatic loss of energy.
"I feel pretty good for the most part, I would say 95 per cent of the time pretty awesome," he added. "It's rare that I have a day where I feel bad. I had one really bad day last week and the week before that in Tampa I had a bad day on Wednesday where it just lasted all day.
"I don't know why or what causes it, it just happens. But I felt great ever since Tuesday of last week. So that's all I got.
"I'm seeing a doctor up in Connecticut. I'm currently doing a pulse antibiotic, and I'm on it right now. Monday will be my last day on this two week pulse and then I'm off for three weeks.
"It just makes me hyper-sensitive to the sun. I walk around with my hands in my pants all the time, my ears are burning and I'm just scabbing up right now, but that's just kind of part of the medication."
Watch the video above to see Jimmy Walker's grandstand finish to his opening round at Bay Hill...
