Walker's United States team-mates Matt Kuchar, Hunter Mahan and Patrick Reed - who so impressed as a rookie in a losing cause at Gleneagles - line-up alongside Englishman Lee Westwood, who was part of Europe's victorious team last month.
Last season's Frys.com Open served as something of a catalyst for Walker, who overhauled Brooks Koepka with four holes remaining to end an eight-year wait for a PGA Tour victory and set in motion a stellar 12 months that secured his Ryder Cup qualification.
A return of two-and-a-half points in Scotland meant the 35-year-old Texan stood alongside Reed as one of the bright spots in a difficult week for the US.
Despite faltering down the stretch, Koepka also used the 2013 Frys.com Open as a springboard.
Having impressed as a wildcard 12 months ago, Koepka returns to the field as the holder of a full PGA Tour card and buoyed by top-15 finishes as the US Open and US PGA Championship.
The tournament itself has a new home, ending a three-year stay at CordeValle Golf Course in San Martin, California, in favour of a switch to Silverado Country Club - marking the venue's first PGA Tour event since 1980.
Tiger Woods' injury absence and Rory McIlroy going back on a verbal commitment made to play in August came as a blow to Silverado, but both players are expected to feature in 2015, while Japan’s world number 20 Hideki Matsuyama was the highest ranked player in the field last year when 10 places lower.
His presence alongside Walker and the other Ryder Cup players demonstrates a pleasing depth of quality.
And the fact that three of last year's top five went on to reach the Tour Championship finale in Atlanta - there are 500 Fed Ex Cup points on offer - acts as an added incentive for the field to bring their best form.
Johnny Miller, twice a winner on Silverado's North Course, redesigned the layout in 2011 alongside his son Andy Miller.
In what should be a memorable week for the Miller family, Andy has been granted a wildcard to take part on his home course having previously been set to enter Monday qualifying.
"It was extremely generous of them to do this," Andy Miller told the Napa Valley Register. "I wasn’t expecting it. There's so many good players, so many people that are trying to get an exemption.
"I grew up here. It's my home course. I get to play where I learned the game. And to play in a PGA Tour event, it’s amazing."