Tight Race at Valspar Championship After Thrilling Third Round

PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Viktor Hovland, Jacob Bridgeman, and Nico Echavarria shared the lead at the Valspar Championship after an eventful third round at Innisbrook, where fluctuating fortunes kept a dozen players in the mix. The three players ended Saturday tied at 7-under par.

Hovland posted a steady 69, while Bridgeman rallied from a difficult front nine to finish with a 70, and Echavarria carded a bogey-free 66, surprising many as he climbed to the top of the leaderboard.

“It’s fun to be in contention, but it is a little bit more stressful when you don’t feel super comfortable over the ball,” Hovland said. “But man, it’s fun to see some putts go in and still see the ball end up close to the hole.”

Bridgeman, a second-year player, demonstrated resilience by bouncing back to shoot 1-under on the back nine after starting the day poorly. “I wasn’t really freaking out,” he said. “But I knew if I could get the ball in the fairway, I would be fine.”

Justin Thomas made a significant jump in the leaderboard, finishing the day with an impressive 65 after starting the round at 1-over. Thomas’s performance on the back nine, which included an eagle on No. 11, showcased his ability to rally. “We just kept our head down and tried to attack when we had chances,” he stated.

Jordan Spieth also made his way up, finishing the round with a 67, leaving him four shots off the lead. “The leaderboard is stacked. There’s probably like 25 guys — 30 guys maybe — that can still win this golf tournament,” Jeremy Paul said after his third-round 70 left him two shots adrift.

Byeong Hun An reached 9-under at one point but faltered at the end, shooting 72 to end the day three behind the leaders. “It’s a tough golf course, especially when you don’t drive it well,” An admitted.

With only four shots separating 23 players as they head into the final round, anticipation builds for an exciting conclusion to the Valspar Championship.