PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Sungjae Im held onto the lead on a breezy Friday afternoon within the Valspar Championship, rallying on the again 9 to edge forward of David Lipsky in agency and quick circumstances on the Copperhead course at Innisbrook.
After lacking two straight cuts in his return from a wrist damage, Im shot a 2-under 69 to get to 9-under 133 — a stroke forward of Lipsky. On Thursday morning, Im had two eagles in a 64 for a one-shot benefit over Brandt Snedeker.
“The important thing, well, the most important thing is that I can get my drives into the fairways,” the 27-year-old South Korean participant stated via a translator. “If I do that, then I will be able to give myself good chances. There’s just a lot of danger out there on the course.”
On Friday, Im had three bogeys and two birdies in a front-nine 37, then birdied the par-5 eleventh and par-4 twelfth. He broke a tie for the lead with a 7-foot birdie putt on the par-3 seventeenth.
“I want to really focus and be patient because I have a chance this weekend.” Im stated. “This weekend, I think the winds are going to blow and the greens are going to get more firm.”
He has two PGA Tour victories, the 2020 Honda Classic and 2021 Shriners Children’s Open.
Lipsky had a 65, enjoying within the first group of the time off the primary tee. Winless on PGA Tour, he birdied the primary two holes and 4 of the the primary six, added two extra on 10 and 11 and parred the ultimate seven.
“It was excellent. I did everything well,” Lipsky stated. “Missed it in the right spots, holed the putts early on to get some momentum going. That finishing stretch is obviously tough, so able to save a couple pars down on 16 and 18 and really kept the round going.”
Chandler Blanchet and Doug Ghim had been 7 below. Blanchet closed with a bogey for a 66. Ghim shot 67, making an eagle on the par-5 eleventh, then giving again the strokes with bogeys on 15 and 16.
“Obviously, I wish I would have finished a little bit better,” Ghim stated. “Two bad holes doesn’t really necessarily kind of ruin a good day.”
Snedeker had a 72 to drop to five below. The 45-year-old U.S. Presidents Cup captain obtained a sponsor exemption.
“The good thing is it’s playing really tough and tricky this afternoon,” Snedeker stated. “Try to take a positive from that. Hung in there when things weren’t going great.”
Jordan Smith (68) additionally was 5 below with Matt Fitzpatrick (69), Marco Penge (68) and Alex Smalley (69).
“I definitely hit it better yesterday and putted better today,” Spieth stated. “So, just try to put them both together on the weekend.”
Fitzpatrick was second final week in The Players Championship.
Brooks Koepka was tied for tenth at 4 below after a 67 in his return to Innisbrook. He missed a 3-foot birdie putt on his ultimate gap.
“Just keep doing what I’m doing,” Koepka stated. “Playing well, like the way I’m striking it.”
Defending champion Viktor Hovland missed the minimize with rounds of 70 and 75.
