Danny Walker, The Rookie Golfer Who Seized an Opportunity

On Thursday morning, Jason Day had to withdraw from the Player Championship due to an illness.  This created an opening for a list of alternate players, and the one who managed to get in was Danny Walker.  A player who only joined the PGA Tour this year didn’t even have a guaranteed place at the Players Championship.  Now that Walker has been officially introduced to the PGA Tour, many fans asking: “who is he?”

Danny Walker’s History

Growing up in Florida, he always had a love for golf since he was at least three.  He would see events held in Orlando and Tampa Bay any chance he got.  Walker has been going for his tour card since 2018, he has narrowly missed the cut each time he tried.  For a long while he only had his Ferry Korn Tour Card which he lost in 2023.  He was going through the PGA Tour Q School during this time where he only got as far as the second stage.  Strangely enough, during this time he was going through university for astrophysics class as a backup plan.

Walker finally earned his Tour card through the Korn Ferry Campaign in 2024.  He managed to finish at number 28 and got his card by being in the top 30 for the campaign.

How Did He Get In The Players Championship?

In the lead-up to his call to take Jason Day’s spot, Danny Walker was fully expecting to not compete at all.  Entering a match as an alternate player is not a dependable method.  Sure it will get players on a list but it is no guarantee, as Wesley Brian learned during the Mexico Open.  Yet Walker got the call and is still ecstatic about it.  When he was asked about how he felt about it he told reporters that he:

“Wanted to play in this event since I was a little kid, especially living here locally,” Walker said Thursday. “Honestly, I went and sat in my car for a few minutes afterwards and just kind of let it hit me a little bit, maybe let a tear out. But, no, it was all great. I was just excited.”

He would describe his entry as feeling “surreal”, again he was not expecting to actually be able to play.  At the time he got the call he was even busy in the restroom:

“I was in the locker room in the restroom [when I got the call],” Walker said with a grin on Saturday evening. “Had to take that phone call.”

An hour and a half after that call he was teeing up to a confused but supportive crowd.  He started getting more and more comments as spectators started becoming fans of him and started recognizing him throughout the day.  He managed to get into 6th place for the Championship, nearly making it to face off against the top names at the event.

What’s Next For Danny Walker

It may be his first season with PGA Tour but Danny Walker is already getting a modest following.  His performance at the Players Championship has resulted in a quickly-growing fan base.  They already like how he plays and they are going to like the excited attitude he brings into the sport while still young.  It will be fun to see what he has in store for the future.  Between Walker, Danny List, Karl Vilips, and others, this has been an interesting season start for PGA rookies.

Main Photo Credit:  © Jeff Swinger-Imagn Images