Herman fires 62 for early lead
PALM HARBOR, Fla. (AP) — Jim Herman was persuaded to play the Valspar Championship by an influential acquaintance, and he made it pay off Thursday with a 9-under 62 for a two-shot lead.
Herman wasn’t getting much out of his game — three missed cuts and a tie for 27th — when he played the Seminole ProMember the day after the Honda Classic. Jack Welch, the former chairman of General Electric, came along for nine holes and liked what he saw from Herman — who said he would have had a 65 that day.
“Had a really good day there, and got urged on from Jack Welch — he’s a member there — to play here,” Herman said. “I was looking at taking two weeks off, so I was kind of a late commit to this tournament. I guess I’m certainly glad I took his advice.”
David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., and Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford both shot 68s to sit in a tie for 11th at 3-under par. Graham DeLaet (71) of Weyburn, Sask., was tied for 56th and Nick Taylor (72) of Abbotsford was in a group at 1 over.
Herman putted for birdie on all but two holes, and except for a 35-foot putt from the fringe on No. 10 (his opening hole), the rest of his birdie putts were all from 15 feet or closer. He only came close to bogey once, making an 8-foot par save on No. 2.
He wound up missing the course record by one shot, but still had a two-shot lead over British Open champion Henrik Stenson and Russell Henley. The first round did not finish because of a one-hour fog delay Thursday morning, though it should be back on track by the weekend.
Herman knows the first round is just a start, and looming behind him is Stenson.
The powerful Swede has a plan for the tree-lined Copperhead Course at Innisbrook, and Stenson stuck to it on Thursday by hitting 3- and 4-iron off the tee when Charl Schwartzel and Bubba Watson were hitting driver.
Stenson’s strength is his irons, however, and he kept giving himself ample birdie chances.
“When the putter feels good and the short game is in good shape, a lot of times I see it more as guaranteeing having a second shot into the green, even if it’s a longer club,” Stenson. “That’s what I’ve done around here the previous two times, and it’s worked out fine.”
Tiger Woods to miss Arnold Palmer Invitational
PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Tiger Woods won’t be at the Arnold Palmer Invitational next week and still doesn’t know when he will play again.
Woods announced on his website Thursday that ongoing rest and rehabilitation on his back will keep him away from Bay Hill and the tournament he has won a record eight times. Woods said he was particularly disappointed at missing a week at Bay Hill to celebrate the life of the tournament host. Palmer died in September at age 87. “This is the one event I didn’t want to skip,” Woods said.