Sungjae Im (-11) will go into Sunday in full control of the final 18 holes of the Valspar Championship. The South Korean finished the third round with a statement shot at the right moment, a birdie at the 18th that takes him to 11 under par and opens a small two-shot gap as the sole leader of the tournament.
It was by no means a stroll. Quite the opposite. Im, who is trying to get back on track after a wrist injury and a couple of missed cuts, started the day strongly, adding three flawless birdies on the front nine to move to -13 and open a significant gap at the top of the leaderboard that suggested a ‘stroll’ towards his third title on the PGA Tour. It looked like the tournament could break open… but Copperhead had other plans.
Taking his second career 54-hole lead into Sunday 💪
Sungjae Im leads by 2 @ValsparChamp. pic.twitter.com/ZhOpz0dyRp
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 21, 2026
Two consecutive bogeys at 12 and 13 tightened the lead and brought back the lost excitement. Im quickly grasped the situation and went into survival mode. He slowed down, aimed for the centre of the greens and played safe in the ever-dangerous Snake Pit. At 17, for example, he carded a textbook par by avoiding attacking the flag from the tee and closing with two routine putts.
And just when the tournament seemed set for a very tight final round, the decisive shot arrived. At 18, Im hit a great iron from the fairway and holed a four-metre putt for birdie that restored his complete control of the leaderboard. He showed up when he needed to most. A perfect summary of his 69.
The truth is his lead cannot be explained by statistical dominance. Quite the opposite. Im didn’t particularly shine off the tee or with his irons, but he knew how to manage the key moments and make the most of his chances on the greens. He was simply the most effective. Playing with a calculator in hand. But even if he stays on top and has changed some of his rivals, the fight for victory remains open.
Par from the cart path 👀
Sungjae Im makes an incredible save to take the lead @ValsparChamp.
📺 NBC pic.twitter.com/XqW5z6yG61
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 21, 2026
Brandt Snedeker (-9) produced one of the quirkiest rounds of the day. The American finished a couple of shots off the lead after an impeccable 67 without bogeys, but he did it from his short game. He only hit seven greens in regulation, but made up for it with a masterclass in recoveries (11-for-11 in scrambling) and a hot putter, one of the best of the day. A pure survival round that throws him right into contention to win again eight years after his last trophy.
Alongside him finished David Lipsky (-9), albeit with a very different script. The American alternated successes and errors throughout the day. He was able to move into a share of the lead with a huge birdie at 15 after holing a putt of more than eight metres, but the Snake Pit was again judge and jury: bogey at 16 and a par to close at 18. Too much of a rollercoaster to storm the lead. He’ll have another chance tomorrow.
One shot back there are dangerous names. Matt Fitzpatrick (-8) completed a very solid 68 supported by his consistency off the tee and his accuracy with the irons, while Marco Penge (-8) was one of the most inspired players. The Englishman reacted after a difficult start and posted four birdies on the back nine to give himself a chance.
At the other end, the demanding course left clear victims. Chandler Blanchet (-5) fell away after a 73, while Brooks Koepka (-4) never found his rhythm and, barring a miracle, is out of contention. The Valspar heads into its final day with a firm leader, but far from unbeatable. Im leads, but Copperhead has already shown that no one is safe here. And even less so when the Snake Pit waits to pass judgment.
