PGA Tour Brunch | Valspar R3
@PGATourBrunch and #DigSportsDesk Coverage at Copperhead Course at Innesbrook Resort in Florida
PALM HARBOR - Seeking his first career PGA Tour title, Matthew NeSmith birdied six of his last nine holes to tie the Valspar Championship’s low 18-hole score of 10-under (61) (Padraig Harrington from R-1 in 2012). NeSmith remains the only player bogey-free through 36 holes.
The 2017 Valspar Championship winner, Adam Hadwin, sits solo-second in bid to become the event’s fourth multiple winner while Sam Burns is in serious contention to join Paul Casey (2018-19) as only players to successfully defend a Valspar Championship title.
Justin Thomas opened with consecutive rounds of 66 or better for the seventh time on Tour but is four back. He has converted for the win on 3-of-6 previous occasions.
In search of his fourth career PGA Tour title and first since the 2017 RBC Canadian Open, 18-hole co-leader Jhonattan Vegas followed a 7-under (64) in R-1 with an even-par (71) and sits T-10 at 7-under (135).
As the second round came to a finish, 72 players at 3-under (139) or better made the cut from a field of 142 professionals and two amateurs.
Valspar Leaderboard After 36 Holes:
Matthew NeSmith 67-61—128 (-14)
Adam Hadwin 64-66—130 (-12)
Sam Burns 64-67—131 (-11)
Scott Stallings 65-66—131 (-11)
Justin Thomas 66-66—132 (-10)
Full Leaderboard (link)
Valspar Championship
COURSE: Innesbrook Resort, Copperhead, Palm Harbor - Florida
ARCHITECT: Larry Packard
YARDS/PAR: 7,340 yards/Par 71
PRIZE Money/First Place Winnings: $7,800,000/$1,404,000
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Sam Burns
PAST RESULTS: (link)
PAST CHAMPIONS: (link)
FEDEx CUP Points to Winner: 500
SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @ValsparChamp
TV COVERAGE: Saturday and Sunday, coverage is set for 1:00pm to 3:00pm (ET) on Golf Channel and 3:00pm to 6:00pm (ET) on NBC.
PGA TOUR LIVE STREAMING on ESPN+: Streaming coverage from Copperhead will be featured on ESPN-Plus today with Main Feed, Featured Hole and Featured Groups from 8:00am to 6:00pm (ET).
PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: Saturday and Sunday coverage on Sirius XM Radio runs from 1:00pm to 6:00pm (ET). PGA Tour Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92 or online via PGATourCom.
How to Watch/Stream the PGA Tour Live and Valspar: (ESPNCom)
How to Watch: In case of changes, visit: (PGATourCom)
The Basics:
Tournament site: The Valspar Championship
The Valspar Championship - Tee Times start today at 7:55am (ET) and continue until 2:00pm (ET).
Weather: Today’s forecast is for mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies with temperatures ranging from 66-81-degrees. Only a 2% chance of rain in the morning jumping to 15% at Noon. Winds at 5-11 mph.
PGA Tour Brunch will post by 8:00am (ET) on Sunday.
Next Week: The Dell Technologies Match Play and Corales Puntacana Championship
What They’re Saying:
NeSmith Ties Course Record (PGATourCom)
Frustrated by Title Drought, Justin Thomas Angry, Motivated (Sports Illustrated)
How to Watch (ESPNCom)
DeChambeau Commits to Match Play (PGATourCom)
Propane Torch Likely Cause of Fire at Oakland Hills (Golf Digest)
On This Day in Golf History:
March 19, 1961 - Bob Goalby made a string of eight straight birdies - a PGA Tour record at the time en route to winning the St. Petersburg Open in Florida. Goalby made birdie from the eighth through the 15th to shoot a final round (65) at the Pasadena Country Club. He beat runner-up Ted Kroll by three strokes. - Courtesy of Randy Walker, Author of On This Day in Golf History, available via Amazon.com and by clicking HERE
Parting Putt:
Brought to his knees:
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