A three-way game emerged after the first 18 holes of the 2023 Valspar Championship as Stephan Jaeger, Ryan Brehm and Adam Schenk all led with five points below. While each is a good player, the team has some legitimate problems piling up behind them. Namely the fact that some of the best golfers in the world are following them closely.
Jordan Spieth, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Thomas and Sam Burns are all three strokes away from the leader. That trio all hit under-2s or better at Innisbrook on Thursday, and all four of them are looking for their first win of 2023. Spieth was particularly strong with his hit to sit behind the lead group entering the action in the second round on Friday.
Let’s see how Valspar’s first round went with the standings after 18 holes.
Leaders
1. Stephan Jaegar, Ryan Brehm, Adam Schenk (-5): There’s more info on Brehm and his wild ace below, but let’s just say this isn’t the trio anyone would expect to top this leaderboard after 18 holes. Combined, they have once finished in the top 10 of their last 75 starts worldwide. Not exactly a recipe for keeping a handful of Ryder Cuppers over the next three days. Jaeger had the lowest odds of the bunch, and he hit the ball best on Thursday finishing third on the court in approach play. However, it would be surprising if anyone in this group lifts the trophy on Sunday.
other candidates
T4. Jordan Spieth, Lucas Glover, Maverick McNealy (-4)
T7. Tommy Fleetwood, Ben An, Alex Smalley, Patton Kizzire, Kramer Hickok (-3)
T12. Justin Thomas, Sam Burns, Davis Riley, Adam Hadwin (-2)
Spieth had his best putting day since May 2021 when he won more than four strokes on grass in Round 1 of the Charles Schwab Challenge. He passed four more times on Thursday in Tampa, and he discussed after the round about the unintended benefit of feeling more confident with his batter (not just today but a lot. recent times) and how it affects every other part of his game. This is a fascinating tool.
“With that sense of comfort with the speed control and overall with the putter, it allows… I feel like I can play in the middle of the green and not hit the pins,” says Spieth. Spieth said. “It’s a different place from where I live because I’m trying to get better and better with the putter. So holes like number 7 today, I didn’t go to any pins. I just went to the point. the center of the green and say, I’ll put 2 times from 35 feet and go on and try to see the last two times.
“So that part releases the fact that I didn’t hit a lot of lanes, and then if I started, my ball would hit [has] has been really solid, including teeing off in the last month or so and it just needs to tighten a bit more. I don’t feel like I’ve done a good job in the past three days, and today I feel the same. So hopefully, [it] just getting better every day.”
Photo of the day
Ryan Brehm scored an ace on the 17th par-3, which is annually one of the toughest holes on the golf course. With about 0.1 strokes above par, it was playing sixth hardest by the time Brehm hit his shot. It was only the fourth ace on that hole in the history of the tournament, and he did it all while looking like an absolute king.
PGA Tour Live
“Honestly, I was a bit surprised to see it go into the hole,” Brehm said, “but we had a good reaction. It was interesting. I was really just trying to cover the front edge of the green. , and we had the wind coming down from the right. I think we had 189 to cover the front edge, and it could have flown close to 200 yards. So it was interesting to see that thing get in.”
Brehm said it was the fifth time in his career (he’s 99% sure) but the first in 15 years.
Valspar Championship Odds, Picks 2023
Odds via Caesars Sportsbook
- Jordan Spieth: 11/2
- Stephan Jaeger: 2/17
- Justin Thomas: 17/2
- Tommy Fleetwood: 19/2
- Maverick McNealy: 12-1
- Sam Burns: 12-1
For this leaderboard to be at the top, so warm, the betting table is solid indeed. I don’t know that I fully trust Spieth at 2/11, and I would probably prefer Fleetwood at 19/2 or Burns at 12-1. However, the one I am really attracted to is Akshay Bhatia, who shot 1 under on Thursday, leading the field in approach play and is 125-1 to win the golf tournament. At least worth a look!
