PALM HARBOR, Fla. (AP) — Sungjae Im appeared poised to secure a dominant victory at the Valspar Championship held at Innisbrook, overcoming an initial sluggish performance following his recovery from a wrist ailment.
Brandt Snedeker, carrying a recently acquired, high-performing putter, was his immediate competitor in the concluding group.
On Saturday, Im sank a curving 13-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18th, concluding with a 2-under 69 and establishing a two-shot advantage over Brandt Snedeker, the 45-year-old U.S. Presidents Cup captain participating via a sponsor’s invitation, and David Lipsky.
Snedeker started strongly with birdies on three of his initial four holes, finishing with a 67, while Lipsky carded a 70 during the bright afternoon where temperatures reached the low 70s and gusts hit 15 mph.
Following consecutive missed cuts since his comeback, Im maintained a one-stroke lead after the initial two rounds on the Copperhead course, which featured firm and rapid playing conditions, posting scores of 64 and 69.
Im commented, “I couldn’t practice for a couple of months. Therefore, many of the shots I was unhappy with from the previous year, I managed to refine once I resumed my practice, and my performance has steadily improved.”
During Saturday’s play, Im completed the front nine three strokes under par, securing birdies on the first, seventh, and eighth holes. He then recorded bogeys on the par-4 12th and par-3 13th, before successfully making a left-to-right putt on the 18th to reach an overall score of 11-under 202.
Im expressed, “I was very pleased with how I played on the concluding holes, from 16 to 18. And I’m extremely excited about the birdie on the last hole, securing a two-stroke advantage heading into tomorrow.”
The professional golfer from South Korea, aged 27, boasts two PGA Tour titles: the Honda Classic in 2020 and the Shriners Children’s Open in 2021.
Im remarked, “It’s been some time since I’ve held such a substantial lead. I anticipate feeling anxious, but my optimal strategy is simply to concentrate on my individual play.”
Snedeker’s most recent of nine PGA Tour championships was in 2018, and he had only achieved two top-ten finishes over the past twelve months. He recently adopted a mallet-style putter several weeks prior and has demonstrated exceptional performance on and near the greens throughout this tournament.
Snedeker stated, “I concluded powerfully, executing some impressive swings during the final holes. My putting and chipping have been excellent; if I can improve my long game slightly, we will have a strong opportunity tomorrow.”
Lipsky recorded five birdies and four bogeys. He has yet to claim a victory on the PGA Tour.
Lipsky commented, “It was inconsistent. I didn’t hit as many fairways or greens as I intended. However, my short game and putting collectively rescued my round and kept me competitive.”
Matt Fitzpatrick, who secured second place in The Players Championship the previous week, was positioned at 8 under par, alongside Marco Penge. Both players completed their rounds with a score of 68.
Brooks Koepka finished with a 71, placing him in a tie for 16th at 3 under par.
