March Madness is underway and like most sports fans, Jacob Bridgeman filled out a bracket for the NCAA Tournament. After the former Clemson golfer shot 67 on Thursday at the 2025 Valspar Championship, he was asked about his Tigers during his post-round media session.
“I have them going to the [Sweet] 16 and that’s kind of embarrassing to say, I should have ’em picked further, but, you know, I just, it is what it is. I hope they win the whole thing though,” he said.
The thought of Clemson winning it all, however, was quickly snuffed out after the Tigers got bounced early, suffering a first-round loss to McNeese State.
Bridgeman, making his 40th PGA Tour start, clearly didn’t let that loss linger, as he went back out on the Copperhead Course at the Innisbrook Resort and posted a 3-under 68. He will take a one-shot lead into the weekend over the trio of Viktor Hovland, Ryo Hisatsune and Ben An.
After missing the cut in three of his first four starts in 2025, Bridgeman has now made five cuts in a row. Three weeks ago, he posted a career-best finish by tying for second at the Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches.
The solo 36-hole leader in Palm Harbor, Florida, says he’s slowly finding a comfort level on the PGA Tour.
“Being my second year, knowing the courses and familiar with where to travel and what to do,” he said about keys to his sophomore campaign. “Not having the stress of getting to know the course, not knowing what to expect the week before. I kind of know which ones I need to go early and prep and which ones I can kind of just chill.”
What would be cool for Bridgeman would be the perks that come with winning this weekend, including an invite to his first-ever Masters.
For now, he focusing his thoughts on being in the final group on Saturday.
“That’s what everyone here wants to do. We want to be in the last group on Saturday and Sunday,” he said. “Yeah, it’s kind of expectations are being in that group and finally I’m there, so hopefully, we’ll see how I handle tomorrow, but today I felt super comfortable.”
Xander Schauffele shot 70-68 and is tied for fifth. He has extended his PGA Tour-leading active streak of cuts made to 60. It’s the longest streak since Tiger Woods posted 142 straight from 1998 to 2005. Schauffele hasn’t missed a cut since the 2022 Masters.
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