PALM HARBOR, Fla. (AP) Three days after Corey Conners thought he would have the week off, he set the pace at the Valspar Championship with a 4-under 67.
The Canadian rookie showed up Monday to go through qualifying for the tournament, shot a 71 to miss out and then was told he got in as an alternate. Conners took it from there with a clean round on a windy day at Innisbrook. His only blemish was a bogey from the bunker on his final hole at No. 9.
It gave Tiger Woods a preview of what to expect in the afternoon. Only four players broke 70 from the morning wave.
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Adam Scott, Justin Rose and Masters champion Sergio Garcia were at 70. Rory McIlroy, playing this tournament for the first time, had a 74.