Jordan Spieth’s wild round, Tommy Fleetwood in form but both chasing Adam Schenk after third round of 2023 Valspar Championship
Sunday is going to be fun. Nine players are within three shots of the lead after the third round of the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead Course in Palm Harbor, Florida.
However, everyone is chasing Adam Schenk, who’s playing in his 10th straight event and 17th of the season, second most on Tour. Then there’s Jordan Spieth, who won the Valspar Championship in 2015, and Tommy Fleetwood, who remains in search of his first Tour victory, that are a shot back.
If you missed any of the action Saturday, no worries, we have you covered. Here’s everything you need to know from the third round of the Valspar Championship.
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Schenk the marathon man
Adam Schenk plays his shot from the first tee during the third round of the Valspar Championship golf tournament. (Reinhold Matay/USA TODAY Sports)
With a baby on the way, Adam Schenk is playing in as many events as he can. The Valspar Championship is his 10th straight start on Tour, and he finished strong to maintain his lead heading into the final round.
Schenk birdied the 18th hole and shot 1-under 70 on Saturday and sits at 8 under for the tournament. He was 1 over thru 15 before making birdies on 16 and 18, two of the most difficult holes on the course, to retake the lead heading to Sunday, where he’ll search for his first Tour victory.
Schenk’s best finish in his recent stretch is T-20 at the Farmers Insurance Open, and he missed the cut last week at the Players Championship.
Jordan Spieth's roller coaster round
Jordan Spieth plays his shot from the first tee during the third round of the Valspar Championship golf tournament. (Reinhold Matay/USA TODAY Sports)
On his first tee shot of the day, Jordan Spieth quickly took a hand of his driver and acted as if it was going to be a poor shot.
It went 343 yards down the center of the fairway. His approach shot went to 7 feet, 11 inches. He drained the eagle putt, and his wild round was underway.
There was no shortage of excitement during his roller coaster third round, but he certainly kept fans on their toes with essentially every shot. Spieth shot 2-under 69 and sits at 7 under for the tournament, which he won in 2015.
Also that year? Spieth won two majors and the FedEx Cup.
His round Saturday consisted of the opening eagle and then five birdies and five bogeys. After each of his first four bogeys, he followed them up with birdies. The only hole he didn’t? The 18th, when he failed to get up and down from a greenside bunker for the first time this week (he was 8 of 8).
If Spieth were able to win Sunday, it would be the second event he has won twice, joining the John Deere Classic. He’ll be in the final pairing with Schenk.
Tommy Lad looking for first Tour win
Tommy Fleetwood plays his shot from the first tee during the third round of the Valspar Championship golf tournament. (Reinhold Matay/USA TODAY Sports)
When you think to his career, it’s hard to imagine Tommy Fleetwood hasn’t won on the PGA Tour.
He has had four runner-up finishes in his career, but he remains in pursuit of his first Tour victory. He has won six times on the DP World Tour. Come Sunday, he has a chance to change his record in the United States.
Fleetwood matched Spieth with a 2-under 69, a round that featured two birdies and no bogeys. It was only the third bogey-free round of Saturday. He’s tied at 7 under with Spieth and will be in the final penultimate group with Webb Simpson, who shot 3-under 68 on moving day.
The chasing pack
Cody Gribble plays his shot from the first tee during the third round of the Valspar Championship golf tournament. (Reinhold Matay/USA TODAY Sports)
Simpson moved eight spots up the leaderboard with round. He’s in a three-way tie for fourth way 6 under with Taylor Moore and Cody Gribble.
Moore shot 2 under on Saturday while Gribble fired a 1-under 70. Gribble had a chance to become the fourth player ever to make birdie on each hole of the Snake Pit, but his putt on the final narrowly missed.
Patton Kizzire, who shot 4 under on Saturday, is at 5 under, along with Wyndham Clark and Matt Wallace.
Shot of the Day
Jordan Spieth continues to be magical with long-range bunker shots, even landing this one in the rough to kill the speed.
Insane touch from @JordanSpieth 🤯 pic.twitter.com/dHxWuIwupd
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 18, 2023
Sunday's weather forecast
General view of the pin flag during the Tampa General Hospital Championship Pro-Am prior to the Valspar Championship on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club on March 16, 2022 in Palm Harbor, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
According to Windy.com, winds are projected to reach the mid-teens on Sunday with gusts up to 25 MPH possible. The temperature will hover around 60 degrees in the afternoon. Heavy cloud cover is expected all day.