Louis Oosthuizen came out flying in the first round of the Valspar Championship in Palm Harbor yesterday, and wound up the day with a 4-under-par 67, tied for 12th.

    Louis began on the back nine of Innisbrook's Copperhead course and birdied the 11th through 14th holes to quickly go 4 under. He then bogeyed 15, and got that one back with a birdie on 17 for a 4-under 31. He cooled off on the front, making two birdies and two bogeys for a final 36-31-67. Along the way, he birdied all four par 5's.

    There's a deadlock at the top at 7-under-64 among Jhonattan Vegas, Sam Burns, Adam Hadwin and David Lipsky. There are also four tied for second, one stroke back, among Danny Lee, Scott Stallings, Richy Werenski and Davis Riley, and there are three at 66, including Justin Thomas.

    Louis is one of 21 players tied at 4 under, that list spanning all the way back to 33rd. Included in that group are FSU's Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Stewart Cink, Gary Woodland, Xander Schauffele, Webb Simpson and Tommy Fleetwood.

    Seminole Hank Lebioda is tied for 69th with a 1-under 70, and Gator Brian Gay is tied for 118th at 2-over-73. 

    Charl Schwartzel finished at 5-over-76 despite an eagle two on No. 6 where he holed an iron from 194 yards. The former Masters winner finished a see-saw round with the eagle, three birdies, three bogeys, two doubles and a triple.

    Louis tees off at 1:25 in round 2 in the company of Koepka and Jason Kokrak.  

    

    

     

    

 

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