Robert Garrigus can’t recall a better performance going into the weekend. And his golf has been pretty good, too.
Garrigus spent most of the practice days fishing in the lakes of Innisbrook, catching nearly three dozen bass. As for his day job, he bagged 10 birdies over two days and delivered the best score of the tournament, a 5-under 66 on Friday, to build a three-shot lead in the Valspar Championship.
“It’s the fishing,” he said.
Garrigus arrived at Innisbrook on Monday and fished that evening, most of Tuesday and then for about five hours Wednesday, without ever looking at the Copperhead course.
“I think that puts me in a good frame of mind because I’m clear and not thinking about anything, just going out and having some fun,” he said.
Garrigus, one of the longest hitters in golf, has made birdie on all of the par 5s this week and is at 7-under 135, three shots clear of Kevin Na going into a weekend with a Masters spot potentially up for grabs.
Only five of the top 22 on the leaderboard are already eligible for the Masters.
Na had a 68, while the group four shots behind included Pat Perez (71), Matteo Manassero (70) and Justin Rose (68), who is the highest-ranked player in the field at No.7 Matt Every shot a 71 in the afternoon and joined them at 3-under 139.
After enjoying a share of the first round lead Australian Greg Chalmers slipped to be five shots off the pace after a 1-over 72.
The three-shot lead is the largest through 36 holes in the 14-year history of this tournament.
Garrigus is about the only player who has made it look easy, even though he felt as stressed as anyone on the Copperhead course, regarded by many as perhaps the best tournament course in Florida.
Rose feels as if his shoulder injury is in the past, except for answering questions about it. He loves the Florida PGA Tour swing because the courses demand so many different shots, and Innisbrook might require the most.
The US Open champion was struggling in the first round until he finished birdie-birdie to salvage a 71. He carried that momentum into the second round, and despite bogies on No.6 and No.8, he felt much better ending with a birdie.
“I got some momentum going today,” Rose said. “I worked my way into the tournament early. To finish strong with my round yesterday I think helped give me some momentum into day. … It’s exactly how I needed to flow into the tournament.”