Jimmy Walker, a six-time winner on the PGA Tour, recently opened up about his struggles with Lyme disease, and how it almost made him quit golf. Despite his diagnosis in 2017, Walker now has a three-stroke lead after 36 holes at RBC Heritage, shooting a score of 6-under on Friday at the Harbor Park Golf Links. He recently talked about the toughest facet of his disease.

Jimmy Walker: a comeback story of persistence and determination

Walker’s diagnosis of Lyme disease in 2017 hampered his game, and he never really recovered from the slip after winning six times, including the 2016 PGA Championship. According to his wife, Erin Stiegemeier, Walker’s blood report revealed that he also had signs of mononucleosis, West Nile virus, and two different types of bacterial pneumonia, all at the same time.

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In a post-match interview on Friday, Walker spoke about his struggles with the illness and its post-effects, saying that he feels different mentally and physically almost every day, making it challenging to rely on the same feel day in and day out, which is necessary to play well. Walker said, “Since getting sick, mentally and physically, I feel different every damn day and that’s been the hardest part.”

He further added, “That’s what drove me away is I can’t get the same feels day in and day out, and that’s what you need out here to play well is to have a feeling of it’s the same, and I can rely on that today, and I haven’t had that.”

Walker also revealed that during his five-month break from professional golf, he didn’t watch any golf or look at golf scores. Although he was still playing golf, it wasn’t that serious. He said, “I was going out there to let loose and have fun as opposed to just a grind.”

Jimmy Walker’s stellar return to Golf

Walker considered calling it quits during the 2020 Valero Texas Open and was on the verge of losing his PGA Tour card the following year. However, thanks to LIV professionals exiting the PGA Tour, the 2016 PGA Championship winner ended up in the top 50 list of PGA career money earners and received a one-year exemption.
This year, Jimmy Walker has made three top-25 finishes in the four cuts he made. His story is a reminder that persistence and determination can help you overcome any obstacle in life.

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