As the Valspar Championship heads into Sunday, two young talents find themselves leading the charge, each on a distinctly personal quest.
One seeks his inaugural PGA Tour victory, while the other is on a mission to rediscover his rhythm on the greens.
Scanning their scorecards alone wouldn’t reveal these stories. Viktor Hovland, despite recent trials that saw him grappling with swing challenges and changing coaches, posted an impressive 2-under 70 on Innisbrook’s challenging Copperhead Course on Saturday, sharing the 54-hole lead.
“It’s golf; it’s a crazy game,” Hovland reflected afterward.
His outward appearance might not hint at the inner struggles, similar to how Jacob Bridgeman’s presence doesn’t immediately shout ‘novice.’ Yet, there he was, a 25-year-old still chasing his first Tour win, standing confidently alongside Hovland in the final grouping. Despite an unsteady start, he finished the day tied for the top.
Bridgeman, poised for another final-round test tomorrow, will play alongside Nico Echavarria, who carded a 68 to join the three-way tie at 7-under. Meanwhile, Hovland will share the round with Ricky Castillo.
“This will be a cool experience,” Bridgeman admitted. “I’ve never really been in the final group, so doing it back-to-back will be fun. I’m excited for the challenge.”
The leaderboard is dense with talent, including big names like Justin Thomas and Shane Lowry just two shots behind, making it an exciting watch. Yet, Hovland and Bridgeman are particularly intriguing, differing greatly in both experience and recent journeyings.
The last year hasn’t fared well for Hovland, a six-time Tour winner and 2023 FedEx Cup champion. Known for his constant urge to tweak and improve, the 27-year-old has openly expressed his struggles as he experimented with different techniques and mentorship. Since shining at the 2024 PGA Championship and the FedEx St. Jude Championship, he has seen his ranking slide from No. 3 to No. 19.
Conversely, Bridgeman is on the ascent. Despite missing the cut in three of his first four starts this year, the former Clemson standout has strung together solid performances, such as a T2 finish at the Cognizant Classic and a T15 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, propelling himself over 100 places up in the world rankings.
On Saturday, Bridgeman battled through a bogey on the opening par 5, navigating the front nine at two-over par. However, a remarkable putting display delivered four birdies on the back nine, keeping him in contention.
“I just focused on grinding as best I could,” Bridgeman said. “My shots weren’t perfect, but I stayed calm. I knew staying on the fairway was key.”
Tomorrow promises a compelling chapter in each of these golfers’ stories.
