Keegan Bradley, and Sam Burns will enter Sunday’s final round of the Valspar Championship just as they did Saturday: with a share of the lead.
The lead duo, who were paired together on day three at the acclaimed Innisbrook Resort, reached 14 under after matching 69s – each posting an eagle, two birdies and two bogeys, including final-hole dropped shots.
Afterwards, Bradley – while frustrated with his putting – was excited about the opportunity for a fifth career win.
“Today could be my best rounds of the tournament so far, I just didn’t hole the putts that I’ve been making the first two rounds,” said Bradley, who’s seeking his first win since the 2018 BMW Championship.
“But without doing that I still shot 69 and I’m still tied for the lead, so all good.”
He continued, “I know I can do it, I know I’ve been up here and won some big tournaments in my career and I feel like if I go out tomorrow and stick to my process, I can have a chance coming down the end.”
Burns, who got off to an eagle-par-birdie start, but finished with two late bogeys on Nos. 16 and 18, was pleased with his round, overall.
“I think I played really well. I got off to a great start,” said Burns, who will be looking for his maiden PGA Tour win on Sunday.
“I thought I hit a really good tee shot on 16, it just snuck through the fairway there and just not really a good spot.
“And then 18, I thought that ball was in the fairway. I think it just kicked dead left and then into a bad lie in the bunker and then it plugged on the next one.
“So I would have taken 5 after seeing where that plugged bunker shot was. So overall I think I played solid.”
He continued, “I mean, I can’t change anything from today, so tomorrow will be a fresh start and we’ll try to work our process and just go out there and try to take care of business.”
One back, and alone in third, was Max Homa, who holed out for eagle on the par-4 6th hole, then added five more birdies to post 66 and reach 13-under par.
“Yeah, another day like the last two, just really solid. Everything felt really in control,” said Homa, who will defend at the Wells Fargo next week.
“I had my best ball striking day for sure today. Didn’t hit a ton of greens but just never really — only one time I feel like I was out of position — really struck the ball well, kept making putts. So that’s been fun.
“But just kind of a repeat of last couple days, I think.”
Ted Potter Jr. carded a low-round 63 to reach 10-under par, good for T4 alongside Abraham Ancer (66), Joaquin Niemann (67), and Cameron Tringale (67).
Charley Hoffman had been part of that 10 under group, but a late bogey dropped the 44-year old to the eighth spot on 9 under.
Despite three bogeys, world No. 2 Justin Thomas carded a 4-under 67 to move 23 spots up the leaderboard, and into a share of 18th place on 6 under. Meanwhile, Dustin Johnson went the other way as the world No. 1 struggled to a 3-over par 74, and tumbled 27 positions into a tie for 60th at even-par 213.
2021 Valspar Championship
Top-5 Leaders: Round Two
Pos-Player-To Par-(Rd 2)
1. Sam Burns -14 (-2)
1. Keegan Bradley -14 (-2)
3. Max Homa -13 (-5)
4. Ted Potter Jr. -10 (-8)
4. Abraham Ancer -10 (-5)
4. Joaquin Niemann -10 (-4)
4. Cameron Tringale -10 (-4)
Final-Round Pairings
All Times Local (EST)
2:05 pm: Bradley (-14), Burns (-14)
1:55 pm: Homa (-13), Potter (-10)
1:45 pm: Ancer (-10), Niemann (-10)
1:35 pm: Tringale (-10), Hoffman (-9)
Odds To Win
1. Keegan Bradley (+200)
2. Sam Burns (+250)
2. Max Homa (+250)
4. Abraham Ancer (+2000)
4. Joaquin Niemann (+2000)
6. Cameron Tringale (+2500)
Material from the PGA Tour Media was used to compile this report.