Jimmy Walker leads US PGA event in Hawaii

Defending champion Jimmy Walker fired 10 birdies in an eight-under par 62 on Saturday (Sunday AEDT) to seize a two-stroke lead in the US PGA Tour’s Sony Open.

Walker, shocked by Patrick Reed in a playoff on Monday in the Tournament of Champions at Kapalua, showed he has put that disappointment behind him.

He one-putted his last 11 holes in round three and his 16-under par total of 194 gave him a two-stroke cushion over fellow American Matt Kuchar.

Kuchar, one of a trio who shared the overnight lead, carded a two-under 68 for 196.

Brian Harman and Troy Merritt shared third on 197 with Harman signing for a 64 and Merritt posting a 67.

Jason Day shares 25th place at eight-under par and is the best placed Australian, while Marc Leishman slipped 25 places to be tied for 33rd following a one-over par third round of 71.

Walker admitted he was “pretty bummed” after falling short at Kapalua on Monday.

“But I got over it,” he said. “It’s golf and you’ve got to get over it because you’ve got to go play the next day.

“It was nice to not have so much time between tournaments,” said Walker, who shook off a bogey at the second to notch four birdies on the front nine.

His inward run included six more birdies, with only a bogey at the par-three 17th slowing him down.

“Coming in the stretch I was hitting it good,” Walker said.

“I was firing at that flag on 17 … didn’t quite catch it all. Still, just going for it, especially coming in.”

Kuchar, who birdied two of his last three holes, said he hoped to put some pressure on Walker on Sunday.

“It’s awfully impressive what Jimmy’s doing,” he said of Walker. “I’m looking forward to playing with him and seeing if I can push him along.”

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