Sungjae Im fires 64 with 2 eagles to lead Valspar after Round 1

Field Level Media|published: Thu 19th March, 20:22 2026

Mar 19, 2026; Palm Harbor, Florida, USA; Sungjae Im plays his shot from the 14th tee during the first round of the Valspar Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images

Sungjae Im found his rhythm Thursday at the Valspar Championship, opening with a 7-under-par 64 at Innisbrook Resort's Copperhead Course to grab the first-round lead in Palm Harbor, Fla.

Im opened his round on the 10th hole and was 4 under through his first three holes, including an eagle on the par-5 11th. He started his second nine with another eagle, and added birdies on two of the next four holes, but then bogeyed two of his last four to finish 7 under.

Brandt Snedeker, the U.S. captain for the Presidents Cup, is one back after a bogey-free 65, turning a sponsor exemption into an early statement. The 45-year-old rolled in five of his birdies on the back nine.

Davis Thompson sits in third at 66, while Billy Horschel, Andrew Putnam and Pierceson Coody are tied for fourth with matching 67s.

--Field Level Media

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