Sungjae Im takes lead into Innisbrook finale, with Brandt Snedeker also in final group
PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Sungjae Im was in position for a wire-to-wire victory in the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook after a slow start in his return from a wrist injury. Brandt Snedeker was right beside him in the final pairing — with a hot new putter in the bag.
Im holed a sweeping 13-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18th hole Saturday for a 2-under 69 and a two-stroke lead over Snedeker, the 45-year-old U. S. Presidents Cup captain playing on a sponsor exemption, and David Lipsky.
Snedeker birdied three of the first four holes in a 67, and Lipsky had a 70 on the sunny afternoon with a high in the low-70s and wind gusting to 15 mph. After missing two straight cuts in his return, Im led by a stroke after each of the first two rounds in firm and fast conditions on the Copperhead course, shooting 64-69. “I wasn’t able to practice for two months,” Im said.
“So I think a lot of my shots that I didn’t like from last year I was able to, once I started practicing, I was able to correct and it’s just been consistently getting better. ” On Saturday, Im played the front nine in 3 under, with birdies on Nos. 1, 7 and 8.
He bogeyed the par-4 12th and par-3 13th, and got the left-to-right putt to fall on 18 to get to 11-under 202. “I was really happy that my play was good on the finishing stretch, 16 through 18,” Im said. “And I’m really thrilled about the birdie on the final hole, and to have a two-shot lead going into tomorrow.