Rai Opens Strong at Valspar Championship as Theegala Struggles in First Round
PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Aaron Rai opened the Valspar Championship with a solid 3-under 68 to sit tied for seventh on the leaderboard after the first round, while Sahith Theegala endured a difficult start that left him near the bottom of the field.
Rai was tied with nine other players in seventh place after a round that featured both early momentum and a strong finish. He began with a birdie but slipped to 1-over par at the turn following back-to-back bogeys on the sixth and seventh holes.
The English golfer rebounded on the back nine with three consecutive birdies on the 10th, 11th, and 12th holes, before adding another birdie on the 17th to close with a 3-under 68. He will look to build on the performance after a disappointing outing at The Players Championship last week.
In contrast, Theegala struggled throughout his opening round, carding a 6-over 77 that left him tied for 128th and in danger of missing the cut.
His round got off to a rocky start with a double bogey on the second hole, followed by five additional bogeys. A lone birdie on the 14th hole provided little relief in an otherwise challenging day.
Sungjae Im leads the field after posting a 7-under 64, despite two late bogeys. The South Korean, returning from a wrist injury, is playing just his third event of the year and has yet to make a cut this season.
Im’s round included six birdies, two eagles, and three bogeys, highlighted by long putts of 18 feet and 35 feet for eagle.
Brandt Snedeker sits in second place, one shot off the lead, after firing a bogey-free 6-under 65. The 45-year-old, who serves as captain of the U.S. Presidents Cup team, recorded his first bogey-free round in 14 years, highlighted by six birdies. (Source: IANS)
