Golf fans who love to see a lot of birdies likely didn't get much enjoyment from the first two rounds of the 2025 Valspar Championship, as the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook has once again shown why it's consistently ranked as one of the toughest tests on the PGA Tour schedule.
At the midway point of the tourney, just 40 players are in red figures, a list topped by Jacob Bridgeman, who followed up his brilliant 4-under 67 on Thursday with a solid 2-under 69 on Friday to take the solo lead into the weekend at 6-under.
Sitting one shot behind in a tie for second is none other than Viktor Hovland, who entered the week having missed the cut in his last three events but put himself in contention with a 4-under round of 67, making five birdies against just a single bogey.
Tied with Hovland at 5-under are Ryo Hisatsune and Byeong Hun An.
Kevin Velo, Shane Lowry, and Xander Schauffele head into Round 3 tied for fifth at 4-under. Schauffele has now made the cut in 60 consecutive PGA Tour events, which is the longest active streak and the sixth-longest in history.
Also extending a strong streak of making the weekend was Justin Thomas, who hasn't missed a cut since last year's U.S. Open. After an opening-round 73, JT battled to an even-par 70 to make the cut by a single stroke at 1-over.
Thomas is part of a logjam of a dozen players in a tie for 53rd, a group that includes 2015 winner Jordan Spieth, past Masters champion Danny Willett, and highly touted amateur Luke Clanton.
The cut line shifted to 2-over very late in the day, allowing another 14 players to make it through to the weekend in a tie for 65th, including the likes of Adam Scott, Michael Kim, Neal Shipley, Brandt Snedeker, and Camilo Villegas.
Now, let's have a quick look at those who are heading home early.
Several past champions failed to make the cut at the 2025 Valspar Championship
There will be no back-to-back winner at the Valspar Championship this year, as defending champion Peter Malnati is among those who failed to make the weekend at the Copperhead Course, shooting consecutive 73s to end his week at 4-over.
Joining Malnati on the wrong side of the cut line is 2023 winner Taylor Moore, who shot 73-72 to finish at 3-over.
Furthermore, 2021 and 2022 champ Sam Burns is also heading home, also finishing 3-over after rounds of 72 and 73.
Adam Hadwin is another past winner who won't be around for the final 36 holes, as the 2017 champion followed up his opening-round 71 with a 5-over 76.
And lastly, 2012 champ and European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald joins the group, finishing his week at 9-over after rounds of 75 and 76.
Some of the other notables who will sit the weekend out include the following:
- Zach Johnson (+3)
- Webb Simpson (+3)
- Alex Smalley (+6)
- Joel Dahmen (+6)
- Karl Vilips (+7)
- Christiaan Bezuidenhout (+7)
- Kurt Kitayama (+7)
- Matt Kuchar (+7)
- Jake Knapp (+9)
- Cameron Young (+9)