Davis Riley (1st/18) seeks his first PGA Tour win in 25th career start after a career-low, bogey-free 9-under 62.
Riley’s 195 total sets a 54-hole Valspar Championship record. A Tour rookie, he holds the lead/co-lead after any round for the first time in his Tour career.
Last rookie winner on Tour was Garrick Higgo/2021 Palmetto Championship at Congaree.
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After setting the Valspar Championship 36-hole scoring record and tying the 18-hole tournament low score, Matthew NeSmith sits two shots back.
Related: Matthew NeSmith living in the moment at Valspar
Defending champion Sam Burns (T3) seeks to join Paul Casey (2019) as the only players to successfully defend a title at the Valspar Championship.
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Riley posted 5-under 31 on his outward nine at Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead) en route to a bogey-free 9-under 62. It marked his career low round on Tour (previous: 65/R1/2022 Sony Open in Hawaii).
Needed just 20 putts, his fewest putts in a round and ties the fewest in a round in Valspar Championship history (Ted Potter Jr./R3/2021).
At 195 (-18), he set the 54-hole scoring record at the Valspar Championship (previous 199: K.J. Choi/2002, Adam Hadwin/2017, Keegan Bradley/2021, Sam Burns/2021).
Seeks his first career PGA Tour title in his 25th start; best career PGA TOUR finish: T7/2021 Butterfield Bermuda Championship.
Riley holds first lead/co-lead after any round of his career on Tour.
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Best position after any round on Tour prior to this week: T5/R2/2022 Sony Open in Hawaii (T20).
Best 54-hole position prior to this week: T15/2022 American Express (T59).
Riley will become the sixth player to pick up his first PGA Tour victory at the Valspar Championship, joining Carl Pettersson (2005), Gary Woodland (2011), Kevin Streelman (2013), Adam Hadwin (2017), Sam Burns (2021).
He finished the 2020-21 combined season No. 9 in the Korn Ferry Tour points standings after recording two wins (2020 Panama Championship, 2020 TPC San Antonio Championship at the Oaks).
Seeking his 15th Tour victory, Justin Thomas (T3/-15) posted his third-straight 66; leads the field in Strokes Gained: Tee to Green (9.029 total).
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With a win, 2017 Valspar Championship winner and 18-hole co-leader Adam Hadwin (5th/-13) would become the event’s fourth multiple winner (K.J. Choi, Retief Goosen, Paul Casey).
Making his first start at the Valspar Championship, Xander Schauffele (T6/-11) sits seven shots back; last player to win the event in his debut appearance was Gary Woodland in 2011.
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