Herman has two-shot lead at Florida PGA

Rod Pampling is the best-placed Australian golfer, tied for 39th, after the first round of the PGA event in Florida, which is led by American Jim Herman.

Jim Herman holds a two-shot lead at the Valspar Championship PGA golf event in Florida after carding an opening-round score of 62.

The 39-year-old, from Cincinnati, made nine birdies and did not drop a shot on day one at Innisbrook to lead fellow American Russell Henley and Sweden's Henrik Stenson, who are tied second after rounds of 64.

Rod Pampling, in a tie for 39th after a one-under round of 70, is the best of the Australians.

Herman was four-under at the turn after sinking birdies at the first, third, fourth and fifth holes and maintained his momentum over the back nine with further birdies at the 10th, 11th, 13th, 14th and 16th.

Henley made eight birdies, but dropped a shot at the 10th hole, while Open champion Stenson carded seven birdies and parred the other holes to stay in touch with early pacesetter Herman.

Irishman Shane Power, who eagled the par-five 14th, lies fifth after finishing day one four shots off the lead after a 66, one behind James Hahn, who made six birdies and failed to drop a shot.

The leaderboard is dominated by Americans, with Tony Finau, Keegan Bradley, Charles Howell III, Webb Simpson all tied in sixth place after rounds of 67.

Bryson DeChambeau is also four-under through 15 but will continue his first round, along with a small number of other players, on Friday morning (Saturday AEDT) after darkness brought a premature end to proceedings.

Australia's Geoff Ogilvy has a lot of ground to make up after shooting a five-over par round of 76, to be in a tie for 133rd.


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Source: AAP



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Herman has two-shot lead at Florida PGA | SBS News