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PGA Tour: Wells Fargo Champ; 1st Look

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Welcome to PGA Tour Brunch Coverage of the Wells Fargo Championship

CHARLOTTE – The Wells Fargo Championship and its substantial prize purse always draws a strong field. This year the field includes four of Top-5 players in Official World Golf Ranking: Justin Thomas (2), Jon Rahm (3), Xander Schauffele(4), and Bryson DeChambeau (5).

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Defending champion Max Homa is coming off his T-6 at last week’s Valspar Championship. Homa must note, no player has successfully defended his title at Wells Fargo.

The tournament’s 2010 and 2015 winner, Rory McIlroy, will make his first start since the Masters when he missed the cut.

A native of nearby Gastonia, North Carolina, Harold Varner III will make his sixth Wells Fargo Championship appearance. Varner III claimed his career-best T-2 at last month’s RBC Heritage at Hilton Head.

The PGA Tour announced Tuesday that 12-1 shot Brandon Todd withdrew from the tournament after a COVID+ test. He was replaced by J.J. Spaun.

The Wells Fargo Championship is the 32nd of 50 events in the 2020-21 PGA Tour season. Due to COVID-19, the Wells Fargo Championship was not contested in 2020.

Tournament Tee Times begin Thursday at 6:50am (EDT) through 2:22pm (EDT).

Weather: Thursday’s forecast calls for partly cloudy skies and 62-degrees with 9 mph winds and only a 10% chance of rain. Friday and Saturday should be mostly sunny, 58-64-degrees, with a 10% chance of rain Friday and 0% on Saturday. Long-term forecast for Sunday is for partly cloudy skies, 74-degrees and 14 mph winds.

PGATourBrunch will be posting before 6:50am (EDT) early tee times Thursday and Friday.

Next Week: AT&T Byron Nelson (McKinney, Texas)

Field Updates:

Charles Howell III (out) / Grayson Murray (in)

Davis Love III (out) / D.J. Trahan (in)

Jim Herman (out) / Sebastian Cappelen (in)

Camilo Villegas (out) / Justin Suh (in)

Brendon Todd (out) / J.J. Spaun (in)

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PGA Tour: Valspar Wrap-Up

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Wrap-Up of the Valspar Championship

Sam Burns became the fifth player to pick-up his first PGA Tour win at the Valspar Championship, taking honors in his 76th pro start. Burns’ previous-best career finish came at 2021 The Genesis Invitational where he placed No. 3.

Burns joined Jason Kokrak, Carlos Ortiz and Joel Dahmen as first-time winners this season.

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Second-place finisher Keegan Bradley fell to 0-for-3 when holding a 54-hole lead/co-lead (P2/2012 The Genesis Invitational, 2nd/2013 AT&T Byron Nelson, 2nd/2021 Valspar Championship). Bradley was in search of his first Tour win since the 2018 BMW Championship.

PGATourBrunch will be posting at 12:00 Noon (EDT) Wednesday with a look at the Wells Fargo.

This Week: Wells Fargo Championship (Charlotte, NC) – (First Look)

2021 Valspar Championship – Final Leaderboard

Sam Burns 67-63-69-68—267 (-17)

Keegan Bradley 64-66-69-71—270 (-14)

Viktor Hovland 69-69-68-65—271 (-13)

Cameron Tringale 69-67-67-68—271 (-13)

Abraham Ancer 67-70-66-69—272 (-12)

Final Leaderboard: (link)

PGA Tour: Final Round at Valspar

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PGA Tour Brunch’s Coverage of Final Round at Valspar

Keegan Bradley and Sam Burns tied the 54-hole tournament scoring record (199) at (-14) and remain tied for the lead entering the final round, but both are 0-for-2 with the 54-hole lead/co-lead on the Tour.

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Max Homa is looking to become the third player with multiple victories this season, joining Bryson DeChambeau and Stewart Cink. Homa is in 3rd place, but only one stroke back (-13).

There have been 91 hole-outs this week, the most through three rounds at the Valspar Championship during the ShotLink era (2003-present).

Round 4 Tee Times begin today at 8:20am and run through 2:05pm (EDT) when the leaders, Keegan Bradley and Sam Burns, tee-off together once again.

Weather: Mostly sunny skies give way to partial clouds. Can’t rule out an isolated shower or thunderstorm developing this afternoon across interior sections. Otherwise, it will remain dry today. A light SE wind this morning will shift out of the SW and increase to 10-15 mph this afternoon.

PGATourBrunch will be posting at 12:00 Noon (EDT) Monday with a recap of the Valspar Championship and a quick look at the Wells Fargo.

Next Week: Wells Fargo Championship (Charlotte, NC)

THIS WEEK on the PGA TOUR: The Valspar Championship

SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @ValsparChamp

OFFICIAL SITE: (Valspar Championship) – (Official Tournament Site)

TV COVERAGE: Today, May 2 – Golf Channel’s TV coverage goes from 1:00pm to 3:00pm (EDT), then CBS takes over coverage from 3:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT).

STREAMING: Today, PGA Tour Live Featured Groups runs from 8:00am to 3:00pm (EDT) with Featured Holes goes from 3:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT).

PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: Streaming Radio coverage today from 1:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT) on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. PGA Tour Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92) or online on PGATour.com.

How to Watch: (PGATourCom)

2021 Valspar Championship – Leaderboard After R-2

Keegan Bradley 64-66-69—199 (-14)

Sam Burns 67-63-69—199 (-14)

Max Homa 66-68-66—200 (-13)

Ted Potter, Jr. 67-73-63—203 (-10)

Abraham Ancer 67-70-66—203 (-10)

Joaquin Niemann 68-68-67—203 (-10)

Cameron Tringale 69-67-67—203 (-10

PGA Tour: Moving Day at Valspar

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PGA Tour Brunch Coverage of the The Valspar After 36 Holes

Keegan Bradley and Sam Burns are tied for the lead at (-12) after 36 holes at the Valspar Championship. On Friday, Burns shot a tournament low eight-under (63) to match his opening round (67). Bradley, the leader after 18 holes with a scorching, bogey-free (64), shot five-under (66) and will join Burns in the final group today.

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They set the Valspar Championship 36-hole scoring record at 12-under (130) (Previous: 131 by K.J. Choi/2002).

For Sam Burns, this marks the fifth time this season he is in Top-5 after the opening two rounds, the most of any player on Tour.

Two-time defending champion Paul Casey opened with 3-under (68) and followed Friday with an even par (71) in a bid to earn a third consecutive title at the Valspar Championship. He’s currently T-33.

The cutline came in at (-1).

Notables who missed the cut at Valspar include: Emiliano Grillo (66) and (76) – (E); Patrick Reed (70 and (72) – E; Phil Mickelson (73) and (69) – E; Graham McDowell (74) and (73) – (+5) and Justin Rose (74) and (73) – (+5).

After receiving widespread attention ahead of his PGA Tour debut, Monday qualifier Michael Visacki (T-114) with (74) and (71) for (+3), missed the cut.

Tournament Tee Times begin today at 8:20am and run through 2:05pm (EDT) when Keegan Bradley and Sam Burns tee-off.

Weather: A weak frontal boundary will stall across Central Florida on Saturday shifting the wind from the northeast during the morning before the sea breeze moves onshore during the afternoon. The front will move back to the north on Sunday allowing hot and humid conditions to return into early next week. The west coast of Florida will remain dry this weekend with any isolated shower and thunderstorm chances remaining over the weekend. Temperatures Saturday expected to be 71-85-degrees and winds expected 6-12 mph.

Next Week: Wells Fargo Championship (Charlotte, NC)

PGA Tour: Second Round Action Underway at Valspar Championship

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PGA Tour Brunch Coverage of the The Valspar After 18-Holes

Keegan Bradley holds a two-stroke lead, the eighth 18-hole lead/co-lead of his PGA Tour career and second at the Valspar Championship (T1/2016; MC). The lead marks Bradley’s fifth straight 18-hole position of T-6 or better at the event but he has not finished better than T-31 in his previous four outings at Valspar.

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Two-time defending champion Paul Casey opened with 3-under (68) as he tried to earn a third consecutive title at the Valspar Championship.

Emiliano Grillo (T-2) at (-5) hit 12 of 13 fairways, and is tied with Tom Lewisfor the most of any player in the field.

After receiving widespread attention ahead of his PGA Tour debut, Monday qualifier Michael Visacki (T-129) made birdie on No. 1 before carding a 3-over (74) in opening round.

2021 Valspar Championship – Round 1 Leaderboard

Keegan Bradley 64 (-7)

Emiliano Grillo 66 (-5)

Ryan Moore 66 (-5)

Hank Lebioda 66 (-5)

Max Homa 66 (-5)

Patton Kizzire 66 (-5)

Full Leaderboard: (link)

Last Chance for April Showers PGA Tour Brunch Special Discount:

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This Week on the PGA Tour: Valspar

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COURSE: Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead), Palm Harbor, Florida

ARCHITECT: Larry Packard

YARDS/PAR: 7,340 yards/Par 71

PRIZE Money/First Place Winnings: $6,900,000/$1,242,000

DEFENDING Champion (March 2019) – Paul Casey – (Leaderboard link)

PAST RESULTS: (link)

PAST CHAMPIONS: (link)

FEDEx CUP Points Winner: 500

SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @ValsparChamp

OFFICIAL SITE: (Valspar Championship) – (Official Tournament Site)

TV COVERAGE: Today, April 29 and Friday, April 30: 2:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT) on Golf Channel. On Saturday, May 1 and Sunday, May 2 – Golf Channel’s TV coverage goes from 1:00pm to 3:00pm (EDT), then CBS takes over coverage from 3:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT).

STREAMING: PGA Tour Live will offer streaming coverage of Featured Groups Today and Friday from 7:00am to 6:00pm (EDT). On Saturday and Sunday, PGA Live Featured Groups runs from 8:00am to 3:00pm (EDT) with Featured Holes goes from 3:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT).

PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: Streaming Radio coverage on Today and Friday from 12:00pm Noon to 6:00pm (EDT); then Saturday and Sunday, 1:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT) on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. PGA Tour Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92) or online on PGATour.com.

Notebook:

Paul Casey, the 2018 and 2019 champion, the only player in tournament history to win back-to-back, will attempt for a very rare three-peat at The Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort.

The Valspar Championship is the 31st of 50 events in the 2020-21 PGA Tour season. It’s the first time in tournament history the Valspar Championship will be played in April/May instead of its usual place in March.

World No. 1 Dustin Johnson finished T-6 at the 2019 Valspar Championship and missed the cut at his other starts at the event (2008, 2010).

Among players making their tournament debut is two-time PGA Tour winner Viktor Hovland who enters the week in the Top 15 in both the FedExCup (No. 7) and World Golf rankings (No. 15).

The 2016 Valspar Championship winner – Charl Schwartzel – lost in a playoff at last week’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Schwartzel and partner Louis Oosthuizen fell to Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman in the only team/match play event on Tour.

In the last two weeks, Peter Uihlein won on the Korn Ferry Tour (MGM Resorts Championship at Paiute) and earned a career-best result on the PGA Tour (3rd/Zurich Classic of New Orleans with partner Richy Werenski).

Uihlein earned a spot in this field via the top-five at the Zurich Classic.

Tournament Tee Times begin Thursday at 6:55am (EDT) through 2:15pm (EDT).

Weather: A high pressure system will begin to slowly shift East allowing more humid conditions to return today and into Friday. Mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies can be expected each day with highs in the mid-80s to upper 80s. The models have slowed down the approaching cold front and it’s looking more likely that the front will stall across the northern gulf this weekend. This will keep Central Florida mainly dry with only a slight chance for a shower or thunderstorm developing during the afternoon hours (winds 10-15 mph).

PGATourBrunch will be posting before the 6:55am (EDT) tee times on Friday.

Next Week: Wells Fargo Championship (Charlotte, NC)

Field Updates:

Tom Hoge (commit) / Grayson Murray (out)
Anirban Lahiri (out) / Grayson Murray (back in)
Nate Lashley (out) / D.J. Trahan (in)
Carlos Ortiz (out) / Peter Uihlein (commit)

Steve Stricker (out) / Ryan Brehm (in)
Cameron Champ (out) / Sebastian Cappelen (in)
Will Gordon (out) / J.J. Spaun (in)
Brice Garnett (out) / Tim Wilkinson (in)

Sepp Straka (out) / Nelson Ledesma (in)
Tyrrell Hatton (out) / Kiradech Aphibarnrat (in)

PGA Tour This Week – The Valspar

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Welcome to PGA Tour Brunch Coverage – The Valspar Championship

This is the first time in tournament history the Valspar Championship will be played in April/May. Paul Casey, the 2018 and 2019 champion, is the only player in tournament history to win back-to-back. He’s returning in search of a third consecutive victory at the event.

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The top-two players in the Official World Golf Ranking, Dustin Johnson (1) and Justin Thomas (2), are both in the strong field.

To that end, 11 of the Top 30 in the FedExCup standings are competing at Copperhead this week, led by No. 2 Justin Thomas and No. 7 Viktor Hovland while 18 of the Top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking, as previously noted with No. 1 Johnson and No. 2, Thomas.

Overall, 97 PGA Tour winners, the second-most of any tournament to date during the 2020-21 season are in the field. The most was the 110 at The PLAYERS Championship.

Lastly, 17 major championship winners combining for 24 major victories are playing in the Tampa Bay Area this week, led by Phil Mickelson (5).

The Valspar Championship is the 31st of 50 events in the 2020-21 PGA Tour season.

Tournament Tee Times begin Thursday at 6:55am (EDT) through 2:15pm (EDT).

Weather: A high pressure system will begin to slowly shift East allowing more humid conditions to return Thursday into Friday. Mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies can be expected each day with highs in the mid-80s to upper 80s. The models have slowed down the approaching cold front and it’s looking more likely that the front will stall across the northern gulf this weekend. This will keep Central Florida mainly dry with only a slight chance for a shower or thunderstorm developing during the afternoon hours (winds 10-15 mph).

PGATourBrunch will be posting before 6:55am (EDT) early tee times Thursday and Friday.

Next Week: Wells Fargo Championship (Charlotte, NC)

PGA Tour: Wrap-Up at Zurich Classic

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PGA Tour Brunch Coverage of Zurich Classic

NEW ORLEANS  – Australians Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith defeated 54-hole leaders Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzelof South Africa with a par on the first hole of sudden death playoff to mark the first playoff in the event since 2017 when Smith and Jonas Blixt defeated Scott Brown and Kevin Kisner. With the win, Smith becomes the first player to win the event twice in the team format.

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Partnering together for the first time, the Australian natives overcame a 1-shot deficit beginning the final round to close with a 2-under (70) and then win with a par on the first extra hole, the par-5 18th.

Runner-up Louis Oosthuizen was seeking his second career PGA Tour win more than 10 years after his 2010 The Open Championship title.

Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay combined for eight birdies in the final round to tie the record for most par-breakers in a Foursomes round since the Zurich Classic of New Orleans became a team event in 2017.

Defending champions Jon Rahm and Ryan Palmer finished seventh at 17-under (271).

The Zurich Classic of New Orleans switched from individual stroke play to the two-man team format in 2017 and is the only official FedExCup team event on Tour.

Zurich Classic Final Leaderboard

Marc Leishman/Cameron Smith 63-72-63-70—268 (-20)*

Louis Oosthuizen/Charl Schwartzel 63-71-63-71—268 (-20)

Richy Werenski/Peter Uihlein 65-69-68-67—269 (-19)

Billy Horschel/Sam Burns 63-73-65-69—270 (-18)

Keith Mitchell/Brandt Snedeker 66-71-64-69—270 (-18)

Keegan Bradley/Brendan Steele 63-73-64-70—270 (-18)

*Won with a par on the first extra hole, the par-5 18th

PGA Tour: Final Round at Zurich Classic

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PGA Tour Brunch Coverage of Zurich Classic

Six teams shot (63) for low round of the day, including third round leaders Louis Oosthuizen/Charl Schwartzel.

The South African team Oosthuizen/Schwartzel seek to join nine players from outside the United States to win the Zurich Classic since 2000.

Defending champions Jon Rahm and Ryan Palmer sit T-9 and four back at (15-under).

The Zurich Classic of New Orleans switched from individual stroke play to the two-man team format in 2017 and is the only official FedExCup team event on Tour. Since team format was introduced, the 54-hole leaders/co-leaders have gone on to win twice – two of the three years – (2017/Cameron Smith/Jonas Blixt, 2019/Jon Rahm/Ryan Palmer). The 2020 event was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Two-time major champion and 2011 Zurich Classic winner Bubba Watson and 2019-20 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year Scottie Scheffler birdied two of the final three holes (Nos. 16 and 18) for a 6-under (66) and sit T-4 at (17-under), two strokes back of the leaders. Scheffler is making his Zurich Classic debut. Watson is making his 13th appearance and fourth in team format with his third different partner.

Format: Foursomes in fourth round.

Highlights from Round Three:

Tournament Tee Times today at 9:50am (local)/10:50am (EDT through 12:55pm (local)/1:55pm (EDT)

Weather: Sunday will be mostly sunny and 71-degrees with winds at 10 mph.

PGATourBrunch will be posting a Zurich Classic Wrap-Up at Noon (EDT)on Monday, April 26.

Next Week: Valspar Championship (Palm Harbor, FLA)

Leaderboard After Third Round at Zurich Classic

Louis Oosthuizen/Charl Schwartzel 63-71-63—197 (-19)

Marc Leishman/Cameron Smith 63-72-63—198 (-18)

Cameron Champ/Tony Finau 63-68-67—198 (-18)

Bubba Watson/Scottie Scheffler 64-69-66—199 (-17)

Viktor Hovland/Kris Ventura 62-69-68—199 (-17)

Previewing Round 3 at Zurich Classic

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PGA Tour Brunch Coverage of Zurich Classic of NOLA

By carding (68s), Cameron Champ/Tony Finau match Henrik Stenson/Justin Rose for low round of the day on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Norwegian team of Viktor Hovland/Kris Ventura are attempting to join nine players from outside the United States to win the Zurich Classic since 2000. Ventura can join 17 players since 1990 who have made the Zurich Classic their maiden victory on the PGA Tour.

Defending champions Jon Rahm and Ryan Palmer sit T-9 and five back at 8-under.

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Nick Watney (No. 4) and Graeme McDowell (No. 17) made the fourth and fifth aces, respectively, at TPC Louisiana since the tournament switched to the team format.

Since team format was introduced, the 36-hole leaders/co-leaders have gone on to win twice (2017/Cameron Smith/Jonas Blixt, 2019/Jon Rahm/Ryan Palmer)

Cutline came in at (-6).

Format: Four-ball third round, Foursomes in fourth round.

Tournament Tee Times today at 8:05am (local)/9:05am (EDT through 11:45pm (local)/12:45pm (EDT)

Weather: Scattered thunderstorms on Saturday (30% chance of rain) with temps ranging from 73-degrees to 85. Southwest winds at 15-25mph. Scattered pop-up type thunderstorms will be possible through much of the day as a frontal boundary remains nearly stalled north of New Orleans. Thunderstorms are not expected to be widespread, and probabilities of any given hour are low, yet the threat for a storm will linger through sunset. Sunday will be mostly sunny and 71-degrees with winds at 10 mph.

PGATourBrunch will be posting before 9am (EDT) on Sunday.

Next Week: Valspar Championship (Palm Harbor, FLA)

Leaderboard After Second Round at Zurich Classic

Cameron Champ/Tony Finau 63-68—131 (-13)

Viktor Hovland/Kris Ventura 62-69—131 (-13)

Henrik Stenson/Justin Rose 65-68—133 (-11)

Bubba Watson/Scottie Scheffler 64-69—133 (-11)

Full Leaderboard: (link)