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Sungjae Im found his rhythm Thursday at the Valspar Championship, opening with a 7-under-par 64 at Innisbrook Resort's Copperhead Course to grab the first-round lead in Palm Harbor, Fla.
Im opened his round on the 10th hole and was 4 under through his first three holes, including an eagle on the par-5 11th. He started his second nine with another eagle, and added birdies on two of the next four holes, but then bogeyed two of his last four to finish 7 under.
VALSPAR CHAMPIONSHIP SCORES
Brandt Snedeker, the U.S. captain for the Presidents Cup, is one back after a bogey-free 65, turning a sponsor exemption into an early statement. The 45-year-old rolled in five of his birdies on the back nine.
Davis Thompson sits in third at 66, while Billy Horschel, Andrew Putnam and Pierceson Coody are tied for fourth with matching 67s.
LIV South Africa
Ordinarily, it's the individual competition that grabs the headlines at a LIV Golf event. But Thursday at LIV Golf South Africa, it was all about the teams in the debut tournament on the continent.
Southern Guards GC, a team of four South Africans, fed off the home crowd to take the first-round lead at The Club at Steyn City near Johannesburg. Branden Grace led the group with a 7-under 64, and Charl Schwartzel carded a 66.
"I think that was one of the best experiences I've ever had on a golf course," Schwartzel said. "I've played Presidents Cups, I've teed off in front of presidents in New York, and that first tee gave me goosebumps. I almost had tears in my eyes. It was a really proud moment."
Grace agreed.
"It's amazing," Grace said about playing a LIV Golf event in his country. "This is what we hoped for. They're coming out in the numbers. They're coming out to support the event. I feel South Africa has been hungry for a big golf event like this and this experience."
The experience also was a good one for Bryson DeChambeau and Charles Howell II, a pair of Americans who each finished the day with 8-under rounds of 63 to top the individual leaderboard. DeChambeau recorded nine birdies and a bogey, while Howell posted a bogey-free round.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Golf roundup: Sungjae Im shoots 64 with two eagles to lead Valspar Championship
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