Sungjae Im fired eagles at the par-4 11th and par-5 1st as well as six birdies and three bogeys to close with a 7-under 64 and take a one-stroke lead at the Valspar Championship. He leads the field in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green (3.847).

The South Korean player holds his fourth 18-hole lead/co-lead on the PGA Tour (most recent: 2022 3M Open Championship/finished T2) and is 0-for-3 in converting to victory.

Im is making his third start on Tour this season after suffering from a wrist injury in January (MC/Arnold Palmer Invitationa, MC/The Players Championship). He has won twice on Tour in 211 career starts (2020 Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches, 2021 Shriners Children’s Open).

“I had a very good start. I was able to go birdie, eagle, birdie. I did not have very good starts the last few months. After last week I really felt like I had to refine some techniques and I was able to focus on specific techniques, and I refined it and for this weekend I feel like that’s a really good outcome,” said Im.

“I was out for two months because of my injury and was not able to touch the clubs. So I feel like I had some loss in touch, especially for my short game. So I really focused the last week on getting this feel and touch back for short game, and I really feel like I benefited from that today.

“Having those two cuts, I had a drop in confidence, but this start is giving me a boost in confidence. And I feel like I need to keep this rolling to keep doing well.”

American Brandt Snedeker carded a bogey-free 6-under 65, for his best opening-round score at the Valspar Championship by four strokes (previous: 69, five times). He seeks his first made cut in his fifth start on Tour this season (MC/The American Express, MC/Farmers Insurance Open, MC/Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches; MC/Puerto Rico Open).

Davis Thompson of the USA posted a 66 featuring an eagle at the par-5 11th, four birdies and one bogey. He has had one top-5 finish in six starts this season (4th/Puerto Rico Open).

Americans Billy Horschel (two bogeys), Pierceson Coody (three bogeys) and Andrew Putnam (three bogeys) are all tied in fourth place at 4-under.

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