Kevin Streelman’s achy back must have been cured in a hot-tub time machine because the 45-year-old is playing like it’s 2013.
That would be the year that Streelman scored his first of two PGA Tour titles at the Valspar Championship. On Thursday, he carded seven birdies and shot the long bogey-free round, a 7-under 64 at Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course in Palm Harbor, Florida. Streelman held a one-stroke lead over Kevin Roy when play was suspended due to darkness with two players still on the course.
In January, Streelman injured his back and withdrew during the second round of the Farmers Insurance Open and didn’t play at all in February. This is his fourth consecutive tournament so the back has been better, but the results so far — two missed cuts and a T-32 in Puerto Rice — gave no indication that he was about to light it up.
“I felt some really good feelings on the range this week and in the pro-am, and it’s kind of cool little new ball marker I’m using that is legal that can kind of give you some visual cues that I think is pretty helpful, I was using that today which I think kind of helped as well,” he said.
The key for Streelman in the first round was a stellar iron game despite hitting just four of 13 fairways. He ranked first in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green (+3.352). Strangely enough, he didn’t cash in on his best iron of the day, getting a good bounce to 4 feet at the par-3 17th but shoved the putt.Still, a strong start for the former Valspar champ, who took advantage of calm conditions.
“Today was going to be the best weather day and then it’s going to be hold on to your shorts here for the next few days,” Streelman said. “So trying to just keep a good attitude and have some fun and it’s a heck of a golf course, so be a fun weekend.”
VALSPAR: Tee times, Friday TV info | Yardage book
Here are four more things to know from the first round of the 2024 Valspar Championship.