It’s crowded at the top after Day of Valspar Championship
Welcome to the logjam at Innisbrook’s Copperhead course, also known as the PGA’s Valspar Championship. After Thursday’s first round in Palm Harbor, 35 players were within five shots of the lead, held alone by Sungjae Im at 7-under 64.
Jordan Spieth tees off on the 8th hole during the first round of the PGA Valspar Championship on Thursday in Palm Harbor. Spieth was five shots back of the leader after Day 1. ©Luis Santana Welcome to the logjam at Innisbrook’s Copperhead course, also known as the PGA’s Valspar Championship.
After Thursday’s first round in Palm Harbor, 35 players were within five shots of the lead, held alone by Sungjae Im at 7-under 64. Right behind Im intriguing storylines abound. Perhaps the most dramatic possibility is the 45-year-old sitting alone at one shot back, Brandt Snedeker, the 2012 FedEx Cup champion playing this week on a sponsor’s exemption.
Yes, the same Brandt Snedeker who four years ago took off eight months after an experimental surgery in which he essentially had his sternum purposefully broken. His injury — called manubrium joint instability, often associated with someone in a car crash — was caused by hitting too many golf balls. Snedeker, who hasn’t won since 2018, had plenty of perspective to offer after Thursday’s stellar performance: a 6-under 65, featuring six birdies and 12 pars.
“I don’t have any pain or anything like that,” Snedeker said. “My chest is not able to do the things it used to be able to do, so my rotation’s a little limited. But when it comes to practice or pain-wise or anything like that, I’m actually relatively well.