Kevin Streelman has a new tool to help him line up his shots on the greens, and it got the green light from the USGA just before he teed off on Thursday at the Valspar Championship. He made the most of it, scoring a 7-under 64 to lead by one shot.
Streelman made the most of the beautiful weather, making birdies on all four of the par 5s at the Copperhead course at Innisbrook. He needed only 24 putts for the entire round.
“I knew today was going to be solid, but the next few days might be tougher,” Streelman said. “So I’m just trying to stay positive and enjoy myself.” Kevin Roy, playing on a sponsor exemption after losing his PGA Tour card last year, also had a strong round with eight birdies for a 65.
Streelman tested out his new ball marker during the pro-am. It has a line on top and a spike to put in the ground, helping him line up his shots. He got approval from the PGA Tour after ensuring it complied with USGA rules. “It’s a neat little tool that’s legal and provides helpful visual cues,” Streelman said. “I used it today, and I think it made a difference.”
His streak of one-putts started with a 5-foot birdie putt on the 14th and ended with another birdie from 8 feet on the fifth. He also had some tricky par saves during that stretch.
This is his lowest score since the 3M Open last summer when he finished runner-up. Carl Yuan, celebrating his birthday, also had a strong round with a 66. His wife encouraged him to just enjoy the day and not overthink his game.
Roy was thrilled to be playing at the Valspar Championship after receiving a sponsor exemption just two weeks ago. He narrowly missed the cut in eight PGA Tour events last year and finished 174th in the FedEx Cup. He’s focused on the Korn Ferry Tour this year but plans to make the most of this opportunity.
The conditions were favorable, with 27 players shooting 68 or lower on one of the tougher courses on the Florida swing. The forecast for Friday looks challenging, with rain and gusty winds expected.
