PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Sungjae Im moved closer to a wire-to-wire victory at the Valspar Championship, using a dramatic closing birdie to maintain his advantage despite a challenging return from injury.
Im sank a sweeping 13-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18th hole Saturday, capping a 2-under 69 that gave him a two-stroke lead heading into Sunday's finale at Innisbrook Resort's Copperhead Course.
The third-round performance was particularly impressive considering Im's recent struggles with a wrist injury that sidelined him for months.
"I wasn't able to practice for two months," Im said. "So I think a lot of my shots that I didn't like from last year I was able to correct them during the time off."
Im's round featured an eventful front nine where he played 3-under par with birdies on holes 1, 7, and 8. The South Korean golfer faced adversity on the back nine with consecutive bogeys on the par-4 12th and par-3 13th before his clutch finish.
"I was really happy that my play was good on the finishing stretch, 16 through 18," Im said. "And I'm really thrilled to be in this position."
Snedeker made his move early, birdieing three of the first four holes with what he described as a "hot new putter in the bag." His aggressive start helped him climb the leaderboard on a day when scoring conditions were favorable.
David Lipsky sits in third place after shooting 70 in the sunny afternoon conditions, trailing by three shots as he seeks his first PGA Tour victory.
The 27-year-old Im, who has two PGA Tour victories including the 2020 Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches and 2021 Shriners Children's Open, appears well-positioned despite his extended layoff.
"My short game and the putter really saved me and kept me in it," Im said, reflecting on his ability to stay competitive while working back to full fitness.
Matt Fitzpatrick, coming off a runner-up finish at THE PLAYERS Championship last week, sits four shots back alongside Marco Penge. Both players shot 68s to remain in contention heading into the final round.
The Copperhead Course has played firm and fast throughout the week, creating challenging conditions that have rewarded precision over power. Im's ability to navigate these conditions while managing his return from injury has been the story of the championship.
Sunday's final round will determine whether Im can complete the wire-to-wire victory and claim his third PGA Tour title, or if Snedeker's hot putter can fuel a comeback charge in the Florida sunshine.