(Palm Harbor) American Matthew NeSmith, thanks to a final sprint marked by six birdies on his last nine holes, tied the course record in one day with a card of 61 or -10, to take the lead in the Valspar Championship on Friday in Florida.
Posted at 8:37 p.m.
Starting in the “back-nine”, NeSmith managed an eagle on the N.14, which added to eight birdies, allowed him to do as well as the Irishman Padraig Harrington in 2012. He could have done even better if he hadn’t missed an affordable putt at N.9.
“I thought he was going to go into the hole. But it doesn’t matter, ”reacted the 28-year-old American, who is two strokes ahead of Canadian Adam Hadwin, the only second.
Sam Burns, defending champion, and Scott Stallings follow at three lengths, and the former world No.1 Justin Thomas is fifth at four points.
Among the favorites, the 2and and 3and worlds, the American Collin Morikawa and the Norwegian Viktor Hovland, who could dethrone the Spaniard Jon Rahm at the top of the world ranking in the event of victory in Palm Harbor, are badly embarked.
The first points to 10 shots, at 38and rank, and Hovland at 11, at the 49and square.