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Viktor Hovland carded one by 69 of two sous by 69 to take a share of the advance of 54 holes in the Valspar championship, where the Norwegian aims at his first American title PGA Tour since 2023.
Hovland, who arrived at the Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Florida, this week on three consecutive missed cuts, says that he always fights against the inconsistency that saw him make five coach changes when he dropped from the fourth to the world in the 19th.
But he could see “a lot of good” after having published three birdies and a Bogey to join Colombian Nico Echavarria and American Jacob Bridgeman at the top of the ranking on Sept-206.
“It’s fun to be in the running, but it’s a little more stressful when you don’t feel super comfortable on the ball,” said Hovland. “But, guy is fun to see putts enter and see the ball ending the hole and put good scores up there.
“We always want to save a lot of blows, but they go quite straight, so it’s okay,” added Hovland, who has been hunting his first title since he won the Tour championship in 2023 – when he won three of his six PGA victories and won the crown of the Fedex Cup.
Echavarria, chasing a third PGA title, bounced one by 72 one by 72 with one per 66 of five sous the Bogey, making five of its six birdies in the nine rear.
“I gave myself a lot of looks,” said Echavarria. “I left a few bridie putts short on the nine front. I got the speed on the nine rear, I made a lot of good putts.”
Bridgeman, looking for his first victory in his second full season on the tour, started the day with an advance suddenly and was kept at the top of the table with a less than 70 which included four Bogeys and five Birdies.
“I had fun today,” said the 25 -year -old player. “I was sailing a lot of the course. I seemed to find places that I had never seen before, so it was fun. I rushed well.”
Bridgeman said that the swirling winds in the afternoon made the uncertainty on many shots while the Greens dried by the wind “became a little crisp”.
The Leader trio was a blow to the American Ricky Castillo, who carded a 68, while a large group in 208 included the major winners Justin Thomas and Shane Lowry.
Lowry from Ireland spent a frustrating day on the Greens on the way to a less than 70, but said he was right in hunting.
“I don’t remember the last time I hit so many good putts that burned the edge,” he said. “I probably hit him a little too far from the hole today … But I just feel like I was not rewarded at all.
“(But) I know if I can go out and shoot in the mid -60s (Sunday) that something could happen.”
BB / Sept
