Herman opens with a 62 for Valspar lead

PALM HARBOR, Fla. — 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.

No, it wasn’t President Donald Trump this time.

Herman wasn’t getting much out of his game — three missed cuts and a tie for 27th — when he played the Seminole Pro-Member 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.”

Herman, of course, is most famous for his relationship with Trump.

Herman once worked as an assistant pro at Trump National. It was there that Trump told him he belonged on the PGA Tour and not in a golf shop.

He eventually made it, and picked up his first PGA Tour victory last year at the Shell Houston Open. Herman still has an endorsement deal with Trump, and he has the Trump golf logo on the crest of his shirt and on his golf bag.

The two weeks he missed on the West Coast Swing was to attend the inauguration.