two of the twentysomethings atop the leaderboard heading into Sunday at the Valspar Championship are searching hard for something.
One is looking for his first PGA Tour victory. The other is trying to find his swing.
Not that you’d know it from the numbers.
Judging strictly by his scorecard, you wouldn’t guess that Viktor Hovland has been lost in the wilderness of late, burning through swing thoughts and instructors. Because there he was on Saturday, posting a tidy 2-under 70 on Innisbrook’s demanding Copperhead Course to claim a share of the 54-hole lead. Deceptive, too. Because judging strictly by appearances, you also wouldn’t guess that Jacob Bridgeman has never been in this position before. But there he was on Saturday, too, a 25-year-old without a win on Tour, looking poised alongside Hovland in the final group, overcoming a shaky start to finish the day in a tie for first.
Bridgeman will go out last again tomorrow along with Nico Echavarria, who posted a 68 to join the three-way lead at 7-under. Hovland will be right ahead of them with Ricky Castillo.
“As experiences go, this is going to be a cool one,” Bridgeman said. “Never done it. Never really been in, I don’t know if I’ve ever been in the final group at all so to do it back-to-back days will be fun. I look forward to the challenge.”
One is looking for his first PGA Tour victory. The other is trying to find his swing.
Not that you’d know it from the numbers.
Judging strictly by his scorecard, you wouldn’t guess that Viktor Hovland has been lost in the wilderness of late, burning through swing thoughts and instructors. Because there he was on Saturday, posting a tidy 2-under 70 on Innisbrook’s demanding Copperhead Course to claim a share of the 54-hole lead. Deceptive, too. Because judging strictly by appearances, you also wouldn’t guess that Jacob Bridgeman has never been in this position before. But there he was on Saturday, too, a 25-year-old without a win on Tour, looking poised alongside Hovland in the final group, overcoming a shaky start to finish the day in a tie for first.
Bridgeman will go out last again tomorrow along with Nico Echavarria, who posted a 68 to join the three-way lead at 7-under. Hovland will be right ahead of them with Ricky Castillo.
“As experiences go, this is going to be a cool one,” Bridgeman said. “Never done it. Never really been in, I don’t know if I’ve ever been in the final group at all so to do it back-to-back days will be fun. I look forward to the challenge.”
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