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Brooks Koepka finishes Day 2 of the Valspar Championship on Friday at Innisbrook five shots back of leader Sungjae Im.
Midway through the PGA’s Valspar Championship at Innisbrook’s Copperhead course, the leaderboard is as clogged as ever.
It almost feels like any of the 74 players who made the 1-over cut could fight back into contention.
For starters, the 36-hole leaders, Sungjae Im (69 on Friday, 9-under 133 overall) and David Lipsky (65 Friday, 8 under total), haven’t been too intimidating in recent years, a feeling reflected in their 82nd and 154th world rankings.
Another shot back were a couple more guys who haven’t struck too much fear into hearts, Doug Ghim (67 Friday) and Chandler Blanchet (66), who are 181st and 105th in the world.
Then the leaderboard names start getting more threatening.
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At 5 under with four others sat world No. 15 and 2022 U.S. Open winner Matt Fitzpatrick, who shot 2-under 69 on Friday. Six players were at 4 under, including three heavy hitters — five-time major champion Brooks Koepka (who got hot on Friday’s back nine to finish with a 67), world No. 40 Corey Conners (69) and FedEx cup leader Jacob Bridgeman (70). At 3 under was former world No. 1 Jordan Spieth, who shot 70 Friday, followed at 2 under by world No. 7 and two-time major champ Xander Schauffele, who shot 72.
Also in that mix: One of the most unlikely frontrunners at 5 under in 45-year-old Brandt Snedeker, who held on Friday with 1-over 72 in what he described as an “up-and-down day.”
“I took solace that everybody would have something like that today,” said Snedeker, who hasn’t won since 2018 after undergoing major surgery to repair his sternum. “I knew it was going to be a tough day. You didn’t see anybody going low. You’re going to be missing fairways, missing greens, it’s going to be really difficult. So just kind of realized it’s going to be a struggle for everybody. So kind of take what you can when you get it.”
Spieth — who hasn’t won a PGA tournament in more than 1,400 days dating to the 2022 RBC Heritage and who, since then, has undergone wrist surgery — said he feels frustrated while possibly on the brink of a breakout.
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“I don’t think the (solid) stats show (in the scoring),” said Spieth, who won the Valspar in 2015 and finished tied for third in 2023. “I think I’m driving it in the top 20, I think I’m striking it in the top 20, I think my short game’s in the top 20, I think my putting’s in the top 20. But then I’ve made some bad decisions or hit some wrong tee shots at the wrong time or missed contact that has cost me. … So I’m extremely frustrated when I don’t get the most out of my round because I’m playing better than I’m scoring on a week like this week.”
Spieth, like Snedeker, did give a nod to the fact the par-71 Copperhead remains full of challenges, which translates to any number of things turning around over the weekend.
Last year, for instance, Justin Thomas made the cut at 1-over par, and then stormed back with 6-under 65 on Saturday and leaped 45 spots up the leaderboard. Late Sunday evening, Thomas held the tournament lead before finishing second at 10 under, one shot behind champion Viktor Hovland.
Speaking of Hovland, the defending champion struggled Friday (mainly off the tee) and shot 4-over 75 to miss the cut by two shots.
Other notables who will miss the weekend include: 2023 U.S. Open champ Wyndham Clark (74-144); Ben Griffin (74-144); Tampa’s Jackson Suber (72-146); 2025 US Open champ J.J. Spaun (71-148) and Sahith Theegala (72-149).
Thomas, ranked No. 14 in the world, again is lurking back in the pack heading into Saturday. He stood at 1 under after shooting 2-under 69 Friday.
PGA Tour: Valspar Championship
SATURDAY: THIRD ROUND
Copperhead Course, Innisbrook Golf Resort, Palm Harbor TV: 1-3, Golf Channel; 3, NBC More info: valsparchampionship.com
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