The 2019 Valspar Championship has officially closed the books on 36 holes of play. With Saturday’s moving day looming the top of the leaderboard is shared once again. As the cut line has come and gone a few notable names, including Jason Day and Patrick Reed, learned the hard way that the Copperhead course can carry some serious sting in just two days of play.
Can Paul Casey win back to back?
The 2018 Valspar Champion Paul Casey once again finds himself at the front of the pack heading into the weekend. The Englishman turned in a Friday round of 66 to climb to 6-under for the tournament. Seeking his third PGA Tour victory, and first since last year’s trip to Innisbrook, Casey kicked off his second round four birdies over his first 10 holes.
The defending champ takes the lead.@Paul_Casey notches an 🦅 to get to -7.
📺: https://t.co/WywtRLOLiq pic.twitter.com/l8dw55pEcv
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 22, 2019
Finishing up his round on the front nine Casey continued his strong showing turning in the first eagle of the tournament at the par-5 5th hole. A bogey on his final hole of the day wasn’t enough to knock the defending champion out of the lead. However, at the end of the day Casey wasn’t the only man on top.
In 2017, University of Arkansas standout Austin Cook took home his first PGA Tour win with a four-stroke victory at the RSM Classic. Entering the Copperhead course Cook already holds two top-15 finishes this season on Tour. Despite missing his last two cuts the decorated Razorback is on a mission at Innisbrook.
Cook started his second round strong with two birdies over his first three holes. Coming to the turn 2-under for the day he continued to put the pressure on with three straight birdies beginning at the par-4 9th. A bogey on 12 brought the 27-year old to a lead tying 6-under par as he will look to carry that momentum across Copperhead and through the dreaded “Snake Pit” over the final 36 holes.
Donald and DJ stay in striking distance
Just one and two strokes off the lead, respectively, Luke Donald (-5) and Dustin Johnson (-4) kept the pressure on the leaders throughout the day Friday. Johnson kept pace with back to back round of 69. Playing alongside co-leader Paul Casey, the world number one carded six birdies throughout his second 18 holes of play.
Target acquired 🎯@DJohnsonPGA with the early birdie @ValsparChamp.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/xn22soTt1N
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 22, 2019
The 2016 U.S. Open champion’s brilliant ball striking didn’t come without his own share of difficulties. Two bogeys and a double bogey at the par-3 13th put an abrupt halt to DJ’s momentum. While many golf fans are used to seeing Dustin Johnson among the leaderboard it’s been a while since Luke Donald has seen his name in contention.
It’s no secret Donald has battled a number of health and playing difficulties over the past few years. Once the top of the Official World Golf Rankings the Hertfordshire, England native has had to battle back to the top in 2019. Teeing it up in just his second official event of the season Donald is already proving his toughness to a whole new audience.
His last made cut was 376 days ago at this event in 2018.
Since then, @LukeDonald has battled injury and only made three TOUR starts.
He's currently the solo leader @ValsparChamp.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/3ImE2DBqLo
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 22, 2019
Throughout his round Friday the Northwestern Alumni turned in five birdies including a long distance putt at 15 to momentarily join Casey and Cook at the top of the leaderboard. An up and down finish dropped Donald back to one stroke off the lead heading into Saturday. With the appropriately coined “Moving Day” looming both of these focused contenders will look to make a major push for the lead at the Valspar Championship.
Top Highlights from Copperhead on Friday
From the edge of the green at the par-3 13th Jon Rahm sank the long birdie putt to move to 4-under and stay in contention. A bogey on 18 would drop the Spaniard one shot into a tie for 9th and three shots back entering Saturday.
A clutch 🐦 for @JonRahmPGA.
He's only two back.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/ko9UJD2jru
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 22, 2019
Canadian Nick Taylor may not be a household name on Tour but he turned some heads during his second round with a near albatross. One day after Russell Knox made highlights at the 11th with the first ever albatross in Valspar Championship history, Taylor almost matched the feat as his second shot on the same hole.
A near-albatross?!
WOW, @NTaylorGolf59! 👏 pic.twitter.com/S94GxVYadH
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 22, 2019
In the rare hat trick of golf not only did all three playing partners in the featured group of Brandt Snedeker, Bubba Watson and Jim Furyk make birdie at the par-5 5th hole but all sit at 2-under par and four strokes off the lead.
Hat trick!@BrandtSnedeker: 🐦@BubbaWatson: 🐦@JimFuryk: 🐦#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/q5iR3cSIE3
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 22, 2019
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