The China Mail - Bridgeman leads Valpar by one at halfway

The 25-year-old from South Carolina recovered from an erratic front nine that saw two birdies and two bogeys to finish the day on six under through 36 holes at Palm Harbor's Innisbrook Resort.

Bridgeman, who is only playing his second full season on the tour, is brimming with confidence after a second-place finish at the Cognizant Classic earlier this month -- the first top 10 finish of his career.

"I've been a lot more comfortable this whole year," Bridgeman said. "Being my second year, knowing the courses and familiar with where to travel and what to do...finishing second was just a confidence builder for me.

"I haven't done anything like that yet in my career and doing that was kind of nice to get that one out of the way."

Bridgeman will have little margin for error over the weekend though, with a crowded leaderboard lurking just behind him.

Three players -- Norway's Viktor Hovland, Japan's Ryo Hisatsune and South Korea's An Byeong-hun -- are one off the lead on five under.

Hisatsune vaulted up the leaderboard with a five-under-par 66 which included five birdies on the back nine.

Major winners Shane Lowry and Xander Schauffele are also within striking distance, two off the lead on four under.

Schauffele only returned from an eight-week injury layoff recently and is slowly feeling his way back to form and fitness after a dazzling 2024 which included wins at the PGA Championship and British Open.

Although he finished last at The Players Championship last week, the 31-year-old said Friday he was encouraged by his form so far at the Valspar.

"The goal was just to be in touch going into the weekend, to get some of those feelings again," Schauffele said. "As soon as I feel a little bit of pressure in my game the swing's a little bit kind of dodgy at times.

"So it's all part of coming back and trying to play at a high level."

Five players are three off the lead on three under, including England's Harry Hall and Argentina's Emiliano Grillo.

C.Fong--ThChM