Jacob Bridgeman ekes ahead at Valspar Championship
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Jacob Bridgeman plays his shot from the eighth tee during the second round of the Valspar Championship.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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MIAMI – Jacob Bridgeman had a “comfortable” day as he shot a two-under 69 to carve out a one-shot lead over Viktor Hovland and two others after the second round at the Valspar Championship on March 21 in Palm Harbour, Florida.
The 25-year-old, in just his 40th career start on the PGA Tour, is at six-under 136 with a narrow edge over Norwegian star Hovland (67), Japan’s Ryo Hisatsune (66) and An Byeong-hun (67) of South Korea.
“That’s what everyone here wants to do; we want to be in the last group on Saturday and Sunday,” Bridgeman said.
“Finally I’m there, so hopefully, we’ll see how I handle tomorrow, but today I felt super comfortable.”
His highlight was an eagle at the par-five 11th hole at the Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course, where he reached the green in two and sank a 10-foot putt.
“I’m pleased with how I played,” added the American, who tied for second earlier in March at the Cognizant Classic.
“I didn’t necessarily hit it that straight any of the first two days, but seeing my misses were in good spots and when I did miss, it seemed to be in bunkers where you can still reach the putting surface. Yeah, it was pretty good. I chipped really good all day. Made the putts that I needed to.”
Hovland, 27, had missed three straight cuts before this week but found better results when he birdied five holes with a single bogey. The six-time PGA Tour winner and world No. 19 is trying to get his game back on track.
“You just wake up every day and you stand over the ball, and you just expect the ball to start in that direction and go that direction and end up somewhere close to the hole. Then it starts to not do that, it’s pretty frustrating,” he said.
“You start thinking things you’ve never thought before. And this game becomes infinitely more challenging and it’s already really challenging.”
Another big name in the Valspar field, American Xander Schauffele, might be able to relate to Hovland when it comes to the ups and downs of the game.
The world No. 3 shot a 68 and moved into a tie for fifth at 138 with Ireland’s Shane Lowry (67), Kevin Velo (70) and Germany’s Jeremy Paul (69).
Schauffele made his 60th consecutive cut, but it was just one week after saying his game felt “pretty gross” at The Players Championship where he finished 72nd.
“Yeah, it’s a process. I’m aware of that,” the 31-year-old said.
“This is one of those places where it can get away from you quick or you can kind of hang in there and your name will be up there on Sunday late in the day. So I’m just trying to play golf.” REUTERS
