March 21-24
Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead), Palm Harbor, Florida
$6,700,000
Round 1, Round 2, Round 4
Looking for another ?.
โ PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 23, 2019
Defending champion @Paul_Casey holds a 1-shot lead going into Sunday. #LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/uA6ILfzbgu
Defending champion Paul Casey clung to a one-stroke lead over top-ranked Dustin Johnson despite a closing bogey in Saturday's third round of the US PGA Tour Valspar Championship.
The 41-year-old Englishman missed a 14-foot par putt at the par-4 18th and settled for a bogey and a three-under par 68.
Casey stood on nine-under 204 after 54 holes at the Innisbrook Resort Copperhead course in Palm Harbor, Florida.
"It feels really good," Casey said. "I was patient for the most part and aggressive when I had opportunities."
Johnson, a winner at last month's WGC Mexico Championship, was next on 205 after a 67 with fellow American Jason Kokrak third on 206 after a hole-in-one on his way to matching the week's low round on 66.
Casey relishes the challenge of playing alongside the world number one in Sunday's last group.
"Playing with Dustin is going to be very exciting," Casey said. "Any time I've got a chance to go up against world number one I'm excited about that."
"I do what I do because I want to play against the best in the world. And obviously he's the prominent one in the group of guys near the lead.
"Who is the favorite tomorrow? Probably Dustin. So I actually feel very kind of little pressureโฆ it's pretty simple. If I go out tomorrow and beat him I actually might win. Plain and simple. Great scenario."
Casey has struggled to defend titles and turn 54-hole leads into victories but he stands a chance of doing both on Sunday.
He has won only once in five tries, and never broken 70, when leading a US PGA event after 54 holes. The win came at the 2009 Houston Open with a bogey on the first playoff hole to beat American J.B. Holmes.
Casey, who edged Tiger Woods and Patrick Reed by a stroke for the 2018 Valspar crown, has never defended a professional title.
But the British star has taken back-to-back titles multiple times as an amateur. He won the 1999 and 2000 English Amateurs and three consecutive Pacific-12 Conference trophies while studying at Arizona State University.
"My mindset now is I've won it, I have nothing to lose," Casey said. "I'm feeling a good position, like I don't have really any pressure. Now I've got one of those trophies. Yeah, I want another one, but it's not as much urgency."
Casey opened birdie-bogey, added a six-foot birdie putt at the par-4 sixth and made back-to-back birdie putts from three feet at the par-5 11th and eight feet at the par-4 12th.
Casey made a 10-foot birdie putt at the par-5 14th, but at 18, Casey found a greenside bunker and blasted out before rolling his par putt just off the right edge of the cup.
Johnson fired his 14th consecutive round in the 60s, the longest such run of his career or by any tour player this season.
The World No. 1 sank a 33-foot birdie putt at the par-5 14th and curled in a tricky 10-footer for birdie at 18 to join Casey in the last pairing.
"It was a big birdie," Johnson said. "I'm in a good position going into the round tomorrow. I played a solid round. Missed a couple birdie opportunities but other than that I played really well."
Kokrak, seeking his first PGA crown after 197 starts over eight seasons, aced the par-3 15th with an 8-iron from 218 yards.
Kokrak delivered only the third ace in tournament history at 15 when his ball bounced twice and rolled 25 feet into the cup, briefly giving him a share of the lead at seven-under.
"We had 194 to carry it into the downgrain part," Kokrak said. "It was into the wind. We knew if we flushed it, it would go right in and it was perfect."
Britain's Luke Donald, a former world number one who has battled a back injury, began and ended with birdies in shooting 70 to share fourth on 207 with American Scott Stallings.
Pos. |
Player | Nat |
To Par |
R1 |
R2 |
R3 |
Total |
1 |
Paul Casey | ENG |
-9 |
70 |
66 |
68 |
204 |
2 |
Dustin Johnson | USA |
-8 |
69 |
69 |
67 |
205 |
3 |
Jason Kokrak | USA |
-7 |
69 |
71 |
66 |
206 |
T4 |
Luke Donald | ENG |
-6 |
67 |
70 |
70 |
207 |
T4 |
Scott Stallings | USA |
-6 |
69 |
68 |
70 |
207 |
T6 |
Louis Oosthuizen | RSA |
-5 |
70 |
72 |
66 |
208 |
T6 |
Nick Taylor | CAN |
-5 |
71 |
70 |
67 |
208 |
T6 |
Jim Furyk | USA |
-5 |
69 |
71 |
68 |
208 |
T6 |
Curtis Luck | AUS |
-5 |
70 |
68 |
70 |
208 |
T6 |
Sung-Jae Im | KOR |
-5 |
70 |
67 |
71 |
208 |
T6 |
Austin Cook | USA |
-5 |
69 |
67 |
72 |
208 |
T12 |
Matt Jones | AUS |
-4 |
73 |
68 |
68 |
209 |
T12 |
Brian Stuard | USA |
-4 |
68 |
72 |
69 |
209 |
T14 |
Sam Burns | USA |
-3 |
69 |
74 |
67 |
210 |
T14 |
Russell Knox | SCO |
-3 |
67 |
76 |
67 |
210 |
T14 |
Dylan Frittelli | RSA |
-3 |
72 |
71 |
67 |
210 |
T14 |
Harris English | USA |
-3 |
75 |
68 |
67 |
210 |
T14 |
Ryan Armour | USA |
-3 |
70 |
72 |
68 |
210 |
T14 |
Mackenzie Hughes | CAN |
-3 |
70 |
72 |
68 |
210 |
T14 |
Bubba Watson | USA |
-3 |
69 |
71 |
70 |
210 |
T21 |
Sepp Straka | AUT |
-2 |
66 |
76 |
69 |
211 |
T21 |
Denny McCarthy | USA |
-2 |
68 |
74 |
69 |
211 |
T21 |
Bill Haas | USA |
-2 |
72 |
70 |
69 |
211 |
T21 |
Brian Gay | USA |
-2 |
73 |
69 |
69 |
211 |
T21 |
Jon Rahm | ESP |
-2 |
71 |
68 |
72 |
211 |
T21 |
Lucas Glover | USA |
-2 |
72 |
67 |
72 |
211 |
T27 |
Charley Hoffman | USA |
-1 |
69 |
74 |
69 |
212 |
T27 |
Nick Watney | USA |
-1 |
71 |
72 |
69 |
212 |
T27 |
Henrik Stenson | SWE |
-1 |
70 |
73 |
69 |
212 |
T27 |
Roger Sloan | CAN |
-1 |
70 |
72 |
70 |
212 |
T27 |
Joaquin Niemann | CHI |
-1 |
69 |
73 |
70 |
212 |
T27 |
Cheng Tsung Pan | TPE |
-1 |
71 |
70 |
71 |
212 |
T27 |
Russell Henley | USA |
-1 |
69 |
72 |
71 |
212 |
T27 |
Rory Sabbatini | SVK |
-1 |
70 |
69 |
73 |
212 |
T27 |
Kramer Hickok | USA |
-1 |
71 |
68 |
73 |
212 |
T27 |
Shawn Stefani | USA |
-1 |
68 |
71 |
73 |
212 |
T27 |
Roberto Castro | USA |
-1 |
68 |
71 |
73 |
212 |
T38 |
Graeme McDowell | NIR |
Par |
71 |
72 |
70 |
213 |
T38 |
Zach Johnson | USA |
Par |
71 |
72 |
70 |
213 |
T38 |
Chesson Hadley | USA |
Par |
74 |
69 |
70 |
213 |
T38 |
Julian Etulain | ARG |
Par |
69 |
73 |
71 |
213 |
T38 |
Rafael Cabrera Bello | ESP |
Par |
71 |
71 |
71 |
213 |
T38 |
Satoshi Kodaira | JPN |
Par |
70 |
71 |
72 |
213 |
T38 |
Wyndham Clark | USA |
Par |
71 |
70 |
72 |
213 |
T38 |
Sam Saunders | USA |
Par |
71 |
69 |
73 |
213 |
T38 |
Brandt Snedeker | USA |
Par |
70 |
70 |
73 |
213 |
T47 |
Vaughn Taylor | USA |
1 |
74 |
69 |
71 |
214 |
T47 |
Billy Hurley III | USA |
1 |
74 |
69 |
71 |
214 |
T47 |
Sung-Hoon Kang | KOR |
1 |
71 |
71 |
72 |
214 |
T47 |
Kevin Kisner | USA |
1 |
67 |
75 |
72 |
214 |
T47 |
Danny Willett | ENG |
1 |
69 |
71 |
74 |
214 |
T47 |
Joel Dahmen | USA |
1 |
66 |
72 |
76 |
214 |
T53 |
Sergio Garcia | ESP |
2 |
71 |
72 |
72 |
215 |
T53 |
Peter Malnati | USA |
2 |
69 |
74 |
72 |
215 |
T53 |
Jonas Blixt | SWE |
2 |
74 |
69 |
72 |
215 |
T53 |
Roberto Diaz | MEX |
2 |
69 |
72 |
74 |
215 |
T57 |
Peter Uihlein | USA |
3 |
72 |
71 |
73 |
216 |
T57 |
Danny Lee | NZL |
3 |
72 |
71 |
73 |
216 |
T57 |
Hank Lebioda | USA |
3 |
69 |
73 |
74 |
216 |
T57 |
Brandon Harkins | USA |
3 |
73 |
69 |
74 |
216 |
T57 |
Anirban Lahiri | IND |
3 |
70 |
71 |
75 |
216 |
T57 |
Kelly Kraft | USA |
3 |
69 |
72 |
75 |
216 |
T57 |
Ryan Blaum | USA |
3 |
73 |
67 |
76 |
216 |
T64 |
Chris Stroud | USA |
4 |
72 |
71 |
74 |
217 |
T64 |
Patton Kizzire | USA |
4 |
70 |
71 |
76 |
217 |
T66 |
Harold Varner III | USA |
5 |
69 |
74 |
75 |
218 |
T66 |
Alex Cejka | GER |
5 |
71 |
70 |
77 |
218 |
68 |
Andrew Landry | USA |
6 |
72 |
71 |
76 |
219 |
T69 |
Morgan Hoffmann | USA |
7 |
73 |
70 |
77 |
220 |
T69 |
Trey Mullinax | USA |
7 |
71 |
72 |
77 |
220 |
CUT |
Adam Hadwin | CAN |
2 |
73 |
71 |
- |
144 |
CUT |
Adam Schenk | USA |
2 |
75 |
69 |
- |
144 |
CUT |
Benjamin Silverman | CAN |
2 |
71 |
73 |
- |
144 |
CUT |
Bud Cauley | USA |
2 |
70 |
74 |
- |
144 |
CUT |
Chase Wright | USA |
2 |
74 |
70 |
- |
144 |
CUT |
Dylan Meyer | USA |
2 |
73 |
71 |
- |
144 |
CUT |
Kevin Tway | USA |
2 |
74 |
70 |
- |
144 |
CUT |
Michael Thompson | USA |
2 |
74 |
70 |
- |
144 |
CUT |
Ollie Schniederjans | USA |
2 |
70 |
74 |
- |
144 |
CUT |
Richy Werenski | USA |
2 |
74 |
70 |
- |
144 |
CUT |
Ryan Moore | USA |
2 |
72 |
72 |
- |
144 |
CUT |
Sam Ryder | USA |
2 |
74 |
70 |
- |
144 |
CUT |
Seamus Power | IRL |
2 |
74 |
70 |
- |
144 |
CUT |
Steve Stricker | USA |
2 |
73 |
71 |
- |
144 |
CUT |
Stewart Cink | USA |
2 |
70 |
74 |
- |
144 |
CUT |
Tyler Duncan | USA |
2 |
78 |
66 |
- |
144 |
CUT |
Charl Schwartzel | RSA |
3 |
71 |
74 |
- |
145 |
CUT |
Chez Reavie | USA |
3 |
72 |
73 |
- |
145 |
CUT |
D. A. Points | USA |
3 |
73 |
72 |
- |
145 |
CUT |
Gary Woodland | USA |
3 |
74 |
71 |
- |
145 |
CUT |
Jason Day | AUS |
3 |
74 |
71 |
- |
145 |
CUT |
John Senden | AUS |
3 |
74 |
71 |
- |
145 |
CUT |
K. J. Choi | KOR |
3 |
72 |
73 |
- |
145 |
CUT |
Keegan Bradley | USA |
3 |
68 |
77 |
- |
145 |
CUT |
Kenny Perry | USA |
3 |
73 |
72 |
- |
145 |
CUT |
Robert Streb | USA |
3 |
72 |
73 |
- |
145 |
CUT |
Akshay Bhatia | USA |
4 |
74 |
72 |
- |
146 |
CUT |
Alex Prugh | USA |
4 |
74 |
72 |
- |
146 |
CUT |
Branden Grace | RSA |
4 |
71 |
75 |
- |
146 |
CUT |
Brian Harman | USA |
4 |
74 |
72 |
- |
146 |
CUT |
Cameron Tringale | USA |
4 |
72 |
74 |
- |
146 |
CUT |
Cody Gribble | USA |
4 |
71 |
75 |
- |
146 |
CUT |
Fredrik Jacobson | SWE |
4 |
73 |
73 |
- |
146 |
CUT |
J. T. Poston | USA |
4 |
73 |
73 |
- |
146 |
CUT |
Jason Dufner | USA |
4 |
71 |
75 |
- |
146 |
CUT |
Michael Kim | KOR |
4 |
70 |
76 |
- |
146 |
CUT |
Rod Pampling | AUS |
4 |
73 |
73 |
- |
146 |
CUT |
Ryan Vermeer | USA |
4 |
74 |
72 |
- |
146 |
CUT |
Brian Davis | ENG |
5 |
76 |
71 |
- |
147 |
CUT |
Chris Kirk | USA |
5 |
76 |
71 |
- |
147 |
CUT |
Grayson Murray | USA |
5 |
72 |
75 |
- |
147 |
CUT |
Hunter Mahan | USA |
5 |
72 |
75 |
- |
147 |
CUT |
Jim Herman | USA |
5 |
73 |
74 |
- |
147 |
CUT |
Kevin Streelman | USA |
5 |
75 |
72 |
- |
147 |
CUT |
Kyle Jones | USA |
5 |
74 |
73 |
- |
147 |
CUT |
Seth Reeves | USA |
5 |
75 |
72 |
- |
147 |
CUT |
Beau Hossler | USA |
6 |
75 |
73 |
- |
148 |
CUT |
Cameron Davis | AUS |
6 |
75 |
73 |
- |
148 |
CUT |
Carlos Ortiz | MEX |
6 |
73 |
75 |
- |
148 |
CUT |
Hudson Swafford | USA |
6 |
72 |
76 |
- |
148 |
CUT |
Patrick Rodgers | USA |
6 |
73 |
75 |
- |
148 |
CUT |
Scott Brown | USA |
6 |
76 |
72 |
- |
148 |
CUT |
Tom Hoge | USA |
6 |
73 |
75 |
- |
148 |
CUT |
Webb Simpson | USA |
6 |
73 |
75 |
- |
148 |
CUT |
Adam Svensson | CAN |
7 |
76 |
73 |
- |
149 |
CUT |
Brandon Hagy | USA |
7 |
73 |
76 |
- |
149 |
CUT |
Brendan Steele | USA |
7 |
76 |
73 |
- |
149 |
CUT |
Joey Garber | USA |
7 |
74 |
75 |
- |
149 |
CUT |
Stephan Jaeger | GER |
7 |
73 |
76 |
- |
149 |
CUT |
Max Homa | USA |
8 |
78 |
72 |
- |
150 |
CUT |
Tyrrell Hatton | ENG |
8 |
69 |
81 |
- |
150 |
CUT |
Jose de Jesus Rodriguez | MEX |
9 |
76 |
75 |
- |
151 |
CUT |
Sang-Moon Bae | KOR |
9 |
74 |
77 |
- |
151 |
CUT |
Ted Potter Jr. | USA |
9 |
76 |
75 |
- |
151 |
CUT |
David Hearn | CAN |
10 |
75 |
77 |
- |
152 |
CUT |
Martin Trainer | USA |
10 |
77 |
75 |
- |
152 |
CUT |
Patrick Reed | USA |
10 |
77 |
75 |
- |
152 |
CUT |
Sebastian Munoz | COL |
10 |
79 |
73 |
- |
152 |
CUT |
Brice Garnett | USA |
11 |
78 |
75 |
- |
153 |
CUT |
Scott Langley | USA |
11 |
74 |
79 |
- |
153 |
CUT |
Jim Knous | USA |
12 |
80 |
74 |
- |
154 |
CUT |
Rod Perry | USA |
12 |
78 |
76 |
- |
154 |
CUT |
Austin Connelly | CAN |
14 |
79 |
77 |
- |
156 |
RET |
Kyoung-Hoon Lee | KOR |
Par |
79 |
- |
- |
79 |