With the biggest stars skipping the Valspar Championship in Palm Harbor, it was left for the second-tier players to carry the day in the opening round at Innisbrook yesterday. None of them did. Instead, it was unheralded Jim Herman who blistered the Copperhead course with a 9-under 62 to take a two-stroke edge over Russell Henley and Henrik Stenson, best of the big names who opted to compete.

    Matt Kuchar shot 3-under 68, Jim Furyk 2-under 69, Patrick Reed 1-under 70 and Justin Thomas even-par 71. Even par was the early projected cut line. Of the Gators, Brett Stegmaier was right on the cut line and tied for 55th, as was Brian Gay. Billy Horschel and Matt Every were both at 4-over 75. Seminole Daniel Berger shot 2-over 73. 

     

 

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