Sepp Straka Leads Valspar Championship with 10 Birdies in Florida
PGA Tour Rookie Sepp Straka Makes a Strong Start
PGA Tour rookie Sepp Straka made an impressive start at the Valspar Championship in Florida by carding a five-under-par 66. The 25-year-old, who is the first Austrian to earn a tour card, has had a mixed season so far with six missed cuts out of nine tournaments. However, his performance at the Valspar Championship saw him record his eighth sub-70 round of the season.
Strong Competition at the Top
Straka shares the first-round lead with American Joel Dahmen, who has had his best finish on tour as joint second at the 2018 John Deere Classic. Just one shot behind them are British duo Russell Knox and Luke Donald. Knox had an eventful round with five birdies, two bogeys, and a double bogey. The highlight of his round was an albatross on the 11th hole where he holed out from 275 yards. Donald’s round was more steady with five birdies but spoiled by a dropped shot on the last hole.
McDowell and Power’s Performances
Graeme McDowell carded a level par round of 71, which was three shots better than Waterford’s Seamus Power. Despite not being at their best in the first round, both players will be looking to bounce back in subsequent rounds.
it promises to be an exciting tournament with strong competition at the top of the leaderboard. Stay tuned for more updates from the Valspar Championship!