2022 Valspar Championship scores: Matthew NeSmith tops Round 2 with Justin Thomas among those who just took the lead

PALM HARBOR, Fla. (AP) – Matthew NeSmith has worked hard and got so little into his game that he’s been trying to get out on his own. He made his name in the record books on Friday at the Valspar Championship.

No longer worrying about whether his shots will find the fairway, his approach shots will land on the green instead of the bunker, whether his shots will go out instead. because scroll inward or not.

NeSmith produced a 10 under 61 to beat the Copperhead course record at Innisbrook set 10 years ago by three-time champion Padraig Harrington. He missed a fairway and two greens, and had a stretch towards the end of his half when it looked like he couldn’t miss a putt.

“It’s kind of weird not trying to hit the straight line and not trying to hit the green and not trying the put and just doing the best I can. It’s been a tough thing for me,” NeSmith said. “I’m like everyone else. We like being in control and we wanted to be able to try to get things right, but I was stubborn for too long, so I got it done.”

NeSmith is in 14th under 128, breaking the 36-hole Valspar Championship record set by Sam Burns and Keegan Bradley a year ago.

Canada’s Adam Hadwin, whose only PGA Tour win was five years ago at Innisbrook, is 66 and two short.

Burns continues to be in the limelight as he defends his title in his first PGA Tour win. He recovered from a rough start to score 67 goals and is three shots behind Scott Stallings (66).

Justin Thomas stood behind the four.

Scores have been low for an entire week after the rain eased and the wind picked up. The cutoff is 3 under 139, the lowest in Innisbrook twice.

Even so, no one scored better than 64 until NeSmith compiled a round of nine shots better than average. He had an eagle put in three of the four par 5s, made an 8-foot at par-5 14. He shot 30 on the front nine, and his 18-foot birdie on the last hole. the same number 9 burned the edge of the cup.

NeSmith says he’s learning to accept the outcome, good or bad.

Halfway there is too far to envisage a victory that will put him in masters, a short drive from where he lives in North Augusta, South Carolina. NeSmith’s father worked part-time as a caddy at Augusta National, and he grew up attending the Masters. NeSmith played it once with a member a few years ago.

“Whether I can drive 25 minutes and play in Augusta or I’m just at home with my wife and dog and hanging out with some friends, it’s all the same,” he said. “So it happens if it’s going to happen. If it doesn’t happen, I’m okay with it.”

The two days around the Copperhead course created very little stress for Hadwin, with his game and between the ears. He was patient about the timing of the attack and relied on confidence in his put to get the birdies and a big par.

He got out of position on the seventh hole in the right bunker when he hit a 15-foot ball to escape sideways. In the round of 16, he made a 20-foot birdie and was soon in his way.

“The par putt above 7 was a big hit that kept me going,” said Hadwin. “I’ve hit some good putts before but it didn’t work out. They started to find the center point after that.”

Thomas had been with him most of the morning, running away from four birdies in a five-hole track along the rear nine. He took care of both par 5s on the front nine and was under 12 when he tried to make a hit he wanted back.

Blocked by a tree in the rough, Thomas thought he might have enough spin on his ball to hook it toward the green with a 52-degree wedge. Things didn’t turn out that way. He shot the ball to the right about 30 yards, put it in a bunker between him and the green and took a double bogey.

He had to tackle another 66, a good attempt on 36 holes, and a reminder not to get too involved, especially in the early rounds.

“I should have just tried to hit it in the front bunker and it was a pretty easy up and down,” Thomas said. “Light as green grass, I said, ` `If I can get this thing to spin and land there, I can really have a putt at this thing.” As good as I feel with my putter, I feel like if I got it on the green I could get a 3. But that’s not necessary. It just really doesn’t have to happen. “

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