In tough windy conditions at the Copperhead course in Innisbrook, Keith Mitchell played well but dropped shots late in his round to finish with a 4-under 67 in the Valspar Championship. The gusty winds, reaching up to 30 mph, challenged the players, with rain adding to the difficulty in the afternoon. Mitchell shared the lead with Stephan Jaeger, Jacob Bridgeman, Ricky Castillo, and Sami Valimaki. Only 21 players broke 70, with Kevin Velo also in contention at 2 under through 17 holes before play was halted due to darkness. Mitchell and Velo both felt the sting of back-to-back bogeys towards the end of their rounds. Despite the challenges, Mitchell remains motivated by his past experiences on the course and aims to use them as fuel for his future performances. Other notable players like Xander Schauffele and Justin Thomas also faced their share of struggles, while Jordan Spieth, a past winner at Innisbrook, navigated through a tough round to finish with a 74. The tournament promises more excitement as players like Jaeger and Bridgeman finished strong, showcasing their resilience on a demanding course.
