Valspar Championship 2022 R1

March 17-20
Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead), Palm Harbor, Florida
$7,800,000
Round 2, Round 3, Round 4

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Defending champion Sam Burns, just days after his victory at The Players Championship, is back in a share of the lead after the opening round of the Valspar Championship in Florida.

Valspar Championship 2022 R1

"The thing about last year is it has nothing to do with this year. So many things are different. There's not much correlation between the two.

"Obviously, I think I'll look back forever on that event, it being my first win. Wins don't happen out here often, so I think it's good to reflect and just be extremely grateful and thankful that they happen and that's what I'll try to do."

Valspar Championship 2022 R1

The American carded the best opening round by a defending champion with a 64 in spite of a couple of bogeys at the par-4s 3rd and 16th.

"It's part of the game. I mean, you just kind of take them and roll with them. I think for me it's, in the past I would say frustrating, which is okay. It's okay to be frustrated. I think it's just what do you do with that frustration? Do you let it carry over to the next shot or do you kind of address it and flush it and move on? I think that's the most important thing."

Valspar Championship 2022 R1

Tied alongside him at 7-under are compatriot David Lipsky, who remained bogey-free, and Venezuelan Jhonattan Vegas who shot his career-low round on Thursday as well as 2017 champion Canadian Adam Hadwin who tied his career-low 64.

Valspar Championship 2022 R1

"A lot of things went right to shoot 64 around this place," said Hadwin. "Just a lot of good consistent golf. I wouldn't say that I felt great off the tee, but I was never in any trouble. I hit it really well.

"Just a lot of good quality iron shots, working off the center of the greens to the pins, giving myself chances. I would like to think I'm a pretty decent putter, so I find that if I can just give myself chances, the more chances I get, the better off I'll be.

"So this golf course I think rewards patience and I took advantage of that today."

Three Americans, Scott Stallings, a bogey-free Richy Werenski and Davis Riley, share fifth place at 6-under with New Zealander Danny Lee.

Valspar Championship 2022 R1