Sungjae Im returned to form with an opening 64 at the Valspar Championship, sitting seven under and one stroke clear of Brandt Snedeker after day one at the Copperhead course, Innisbrook. Im, who had missed two straight cuts returning from a wrist injury, made two eagles in his round — holing an 18-foot putt on the par-five 11th and a 35-foot eagle on the par-five first after the turn — and was only slowed by a pair of bogeys over his last four holes.
Snedeker, playing on a sponsor exemption and serving as USA captain for the Presidents Cup, posted a bogey-free 65 — his first bogey-free round at Innisbrook in 14 years — after rattling off three straight birdies to start the back nine. “Had a really good game plan — just relied on my putter,” Snedeker said. “I putted great today, made a bunch of footage of putts, and put myself in position off the tee, hit a lot of fairways and greens. Really excited about how it started, but a long way to go from here.”
Davis Thompson is alone in third at five under after a 66. Pierceson Coody, Andrew Putnam and Billy Horschel shot 67s to sit four under. Horschel, who missed The Players Championship last week, faces increasing urgency to either win or climb inside the top 50 to qualify for next month’s Masters.
A group at three under included Matt Fitzpatrick — runner-up at The Players — along with Xander Schauffele and Jacob Bridgeman, all shooting 68 in bogey-free rounds. Corey Conners carded a 69 that featured consecutive eagles around the turn, holed at the 18th and then the first. Three-time major champion Jordan Spieth also finished at 69 after a front nine at one stage five under, only to slip with missed short putts and a costly double bogey at the 16th in the Snake Pit.
Defending champion Viktor Hovland recovered from two over through six to salvage a one-under 70, while Brooks Koepka returned to Innisbrook with an even-par 71.
There was also an unusual moment early in the day when playing partners Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen and Isaiah Salinda putted simultaneously and their balls collided, a rare sight that left commentators baffled.
Watch round two of the Valspar Championship live on Sky Sports Golf from 11.30am on Friday. Stream options are available for viewers without a Sky subscription.