Danny Walker received a life-changing last-minute call to compete in The Players Championship after Jason Day withdrew due to illness at 7am ET on Thursday morning.

The 29-year-old Florida native, who has lived in Jacksonville since 2020 and played TPC Sawgrass "over 100 times," was overcome with emotion upon receiving the news.

"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," Walker shared. "I wanted to play in this event since I was a little kid, especially living here locally."

Walker was grouped with major champions Wyndham Clark and Jordan Spieth, teeing off at 8:46am. He used meditation to calm his nerves before the round, reflecting on his childhood dreams of playing in this prestigious event.

His round featured several highlights, including a memorable birdie on the iconic 17th hole. "That was really cool. I'll remember that one for a long time," Walker said.

Walker finished his opening round with a one-over-par 73, keeping him in contention to make the cut. This opportunity marks a significant milestone in his career, having nearly quit golf in 2021 when he briefly worked as a waiter before winning his second PGA Tour Canada title.

Walker, Spieth, and Clark will continue their tournament journey with a second-round tee time at 1:51pm ET on Friday.

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