- Hovland (-7) tied with Bridgeman and Echavarria after turbulent moving day
- 23 players within four strokes on challenging Copperhead course
- Justin Thomas fires career-best 65 to surge into contention
- Byeong Hun An collapses from 9-under lead with late bogeys
The Valspar Championship transformed into a survival test Saturday as Innisbrook's Copperhead course reshaped the tournament narrative. Viktor Hovland's steady 69 maintained his position despite swirling winds and mounting pressure, while rookie Jacob Bridgeman overcame a four-shot deficit to join the Norwegian star atop the leaderboard at 7-under par.
Justin Thomas authored the day's most dramatic turnaround, carding seven birdies and an eagle during his bogey-free 65. The two-time major champion's back-nine 30 marked his lowest career score on the Copperhead layout, propelling him to 5-under par. That eagle on 11 flipped everything,Thomas revealed. Suddenly putts started dropping from everywhere.
Course management proved critical as only eight players broke 70. Colombia's Nico Echavarria delivered the round of the day with a bogey-free 66, capitalizing on precise iron play to birdie all three par-3s on the back nine. The 2023 Puerto Rico Open winner credited his strategic approach: You can't overpower this track - placement beats power every time.
The tournament's volatility was exemplified by Byeong Hun An's disastrous finish. The South Korean held a two-shot lead at 9-under through 11 holes before unraveling with five bogeys in his final seven holes. His 72 dropped him to 4-under, illustrating the razor-thin margin for error on Pete Dye's treacherous design.
Industry analysts highlight three critical factors shaping Sunday's finale:
- Copperhead's signature Snake Pitstretch (holes 16-18) played 0.35 strokes over par Saturday
- Winners here average 73% greens in regulation since 2018
- Only 12 of 25 third-round leaders have closed since tournament moved to March
Local caddie G.W. Cable emphasized the mental challenge: You're fighting the course as much as the field. One misclubbed iron can lead to double in a heartbeat.This reality sets up a Sunday showdown where patience could prove more valuable than aggression.
With $1.5 million and 500 FedEx Cup points at stake, Hovland seeks his first PGA Tour victory since August 2023. The former Oklahoma State star admitted to technical struggles: When you're rebuilding swing mechanics, every shot feels like a puzzle.His ability to maintain composure despite these challenges could define golf's most unpredictable finish of 2024.