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 After toiling away as a journeyman for several winless years on
the highly competitive PGA Tour, Walker finally made his
breakthrough in stunning fashion as he triumphed three times early
on in 2013-14.
The slim American also performed well at the four majors, recording
three top-10s last season, and has set his sights on clinching one
of golf's most coveted titles in 2014.
"The slate is going to be wiped clean for me in 2014 but it's a
career for me and I think you've got to look at it in a broad
sense," Walker, 35, told Reuters as he wrapped up his preparations
for the opening PGA Tour event of the year.
"I definitely want to keep doing what I've been doing. It was a lot
of fun last season and it sure is fun to play well in the big events
but I'd like to play ever better. So I'm looking forward to the
challenge of being even better this year."
Walker, whose world ranking has climbed to 21 following his three
victories on the 2013-14 PGA Tour, has especially targeted golf's
blue riband events.
 SIZZLING START
"I want to compete and win one (a major) so that's one of my goals
this year," said the American, standing by the clubhouse at
Kapalua's Plantation Course with a spectacular, sun-splashed view of
the Pacific and island of Molokai in the distance.
"I'm really looking forward to getting to Augusta (National) for the
Masters and starting it off but there's still a lot of really good
golf in between now and then so I am pretty focused on that."
Walker won three times in just eight starts to launch his 2013-14
season in sizzling fashion and believes his game is close to that
level heading into Friday's opening round at Kapalua where an elite,
winners-only field of 34 has assembled.
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"I feel good," smiled the Oklahoma native, who now resides in
Texas. "I feel like I am prepared and rested and ready to go. Time
will tell. I have done what I need to do to be ready, and that's all
I can do."
Walker became only the fourth player since 1995 to win three events
in eight or fewer starts to begin a PGA Tour season, emulating the
previous achievements of David Duval, Phil Mickelson and Tiger
Woods, who did so an incredible eight times.
"You play hard to get into a position to have a chance to win and
sometimes it's hard to get to that point, but the more times you do,
obviously the more chances you're going to have," said Walker.
"Eventually you will break through and get the win. It's just about
being in the right place at the right time and taking advantage of
the breaks when you get them."
(Editing by John O'Brien)
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